what is a ladle

A ladle is a type of cooking implement used for serving liquid dishes such as soup, stew, gravy, sauce, and fruit punch. It typically consists of a long handle terminating in a deep, round bowl, with the bowl oriented at an angle to the handle to facilitate lifting liquid out of a pot or other vessel and conveying it to a bowl. Ladles are made of various materials such as stainless steel, aluminum, silver, plastics, melamine resin, wood, and bamboo, and come in a variety of sizes depending on their use. They are also used in religious rituals in many cultures, such as in Japanese temples for performing chozu, a ritual required before entering the temple, signifying self-purification).