The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ladle \La"dle\, n. [AS. hl[ae]del, fr. hladan to load, drain.
   See Lade, v. t.]
   1. A cuplike spoon, often of large size, with a long handle,
      used in lading or dipping.
      [1913 Webster]

            When the materials of glass have been kept long in
            fusion, the mixture casts up the superfluous salt,
            which the workmen take off with ladles. --Boyle.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Founding) A vessel to carry liquid metal from the furnace
      to the mold.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. The float of a mill wheel; -- called also ladle board.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Gun.)
      (a) An instrument for drawing the charge of a cannon.
      (b) A ring, with a handle or handles fitted to it, for
          carrying shot.
          [1913 Webster]

   Ladle wood (Bot.), the wood of a South African tree
      (Cassine Colpoon), used for carving.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ladle \La"dle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ladled; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Ladling.]
   To take up and convey in a ladle; to dip with, or as with, a
   ladle; as, to ladle out soup; to ladle oatmeal into a kettle.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

ladle
    n 1: a spoon-shaped vessel with a long handle; frequently used
         to transfer liquids from one container to another
    v 1: put (a liquid) into a container by means of a ladle; "ladle
         soup into the bowl"
    2: remove with or as if with a ladle; "ladle the water out of
       the bowl" [syn: ladle, lade, laden]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

24 Moby Thesaurus words for "ladle":
   bail, bucket, calabash, cup, decant, dip, dipper, dish, dish out,
   dish up, fork, gourd, labis, lade, pour, scoop, shovel, soupspoon,
   spade, spatula, spoon, tablespoon, teaspoon, trowel