Crossword Genius

The starving snake loves new item of cutlery (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

teaspoon

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'item of cutlery' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'the starving snake loves new' is the wordplay.
'the starving' becomes 'te' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'snake' becomes 'asp' (asp is a kind of snake).
'loves' becomes 'oo' (love means 0 in tennis).
'new' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation eg NT for New Testament).
'te'+'asp'+'oo'+'n'='TEASPOON'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for teaspoon that I've seen before include "Not Aesop (anag.)" , "Cooking unit" , "Small item of cutlery (8)" , "With OAP onset, use it at table" , "Small stirrer" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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