The stere is a unit of volume and is a non-SI unit but accepted for use as a metric unit with the symbol st.
1 stere is equal to 1 cubic metre (1 m³) which is equivalent to the volume contained in a cube with edges all at 1 m. The stere is used to measure large quantities of cut wood or firewood. It is used to distinguish between cut and uncut wood - its equivalent, the cubic meter is used to measure uncut wood.
The word 'stere' hails from the Greek 'στερεός' or 'stereos' which translates to 'solid'. It represents the wood used to produce the cut wood - and therefore often the dimensions of the cut wood is less than its uncut equivalent.
The tablespoon is a unit of volume in the US customary system and uses the symbol Tbsp.
In the kitchen, the tablespoon is the larger of the commonly used spoons served at the table and represents 1/2 US fluid ounce or, expressed in SI / metric format; 14.78676 ml.
This is often expressed as equivalent to 3 teaspoons (3 Tsp) although strictly speaking it is a little under the size of 3 metric teaspoons (5 ml) at 4.92892159375 ml. It was established to assist normal kitchens with recipes without the need for specific measuring equipment or devices. Although many spoons differ in sizes (and very rarely is a spoon filled accurately) it allowed for a decent "catch-all" and gave a "good enough" result most of the time.