spat·ula [spatulaspatulas] BrE [ˈspætʃələ] NAmE [ˈspætʃələ] noun 1. a tool with a broad flat blade used for mixing and spreading things, especially in cooking and painting 2. (especially NAmE) (BrE usually ˈfish slice)a kitchen ↑utensil that has a broad flat blade with narrow holes in it, attached to a long handle, used for turning and lifting food when cooking 3. (BrE) (NAmE ˈtongue depressor)a thin flat instrument that doctors use for pressing the tongue down when they are examining sb's throat See also: ↑fish slice▪ ↑tongue depressor
Word Origin: early 16th cent.: from Latin, variant of spathula, diminutive of spatha, from Greek spathē ‘broad blade’.