<P> Common tablespoons intended for use as cutlery (called dessert spoons in the UK, where a tablespoon is always a serving spoon) usually hold 7--14 ml (0.24--0.47 US fl oz), considerably less than some tablespoons used for serving . </P> <P> In most regions (including the US, UK, most Commonwealth countries, East Asia and the Philippines), one tablespoon equals three teaspoons . In these regions, one tablespoon is 14.8 ml (0.50 US fl oz). In some places like the US, the tablespoon was historically defined as ⁄ US fl oz (2 tbsp. = 1 US fl oz). In Australia, a tablespoon is defined as four teaspoons, equaling to 20 ml (0.68 US fl oz). Victorian and Edwardian era tablespoons used in the UK are often 25 ml (0.85 US fl oz) or sometimes larger . They are used only for preparing and serving food, not as part of a place - setting . </P> <P> In writing volume - based recipes, an abbreviation like tbsp. is usually used to refer to a tablespoon, to differentiate it from the smaller teaspoon (tsp .). Some authors additionally capitalize the abbreviation, as Tbsp., while leaving tsp. in lower case, to emphasize that the larger tablespoon, rather than the smaller teaspoon, is wanted . The tablespoon abbreviation is sometimes further abbreviated to "Tb ." or T . </P> <P> The traditional US interpretation of the tablespoon as a unit of volume is: </P>

What is the meaning of tbsp and tsp