Cryptic crossword clue
Cutlery made from soapstone undergoing deterioration 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word TEASPOONS

I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
T
E
A
S
P
O
O
N
S

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Cutlery" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case cutlery = teaspoons.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does TEASPOONS mean?

TEASPOONS noun
  1. A small spoon used to stir the contents of a cup or glass.
  2. A unit of measure, equivalent to one-third of a tablespoon or roughly five milliliters.

Latest crossword clues with full explanations