noun
cutlery
KUHT-luh-ree
noun
1
Knives, forks, spoons, and other tools used for eating or serving food.
"She set the table with fresh cutlery for the dinner party."
"The restaurant polishes its cutlery before every service."
2
Cutting implements in general, especially knives and blades.
"The shop sells cutlery ranging from kitchen knives to hunting blades."
How to Use Cutlery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishKnives, forks, and spoons collectively — what you eat with.
UK vs US
In British English, "cutlery" covers knives, forks, and spoons; American English often calls the same items "silverware" or "flatware" even when they aren't silver.
Common pairings
a set of cutlery
silver cutlery
plastic cutlery
Word Forms
cutleries plural
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She set the table with fresh _____ for the dinner party.
Etymology
From Old French coutelerie, the trade of a coutelier (cutler, or knife-maker).