tong

1
[ tawng, tong ]
See synonyms for: tongtongs on Thesaurus.com

noun
verb (used with object)
  1. to lift, seize, gather, hold, or handle with tongs, as logs or oysters.

verb (used without object)
  1. to use, or work with, tongs.

Origin of tong

1
before 900; 1865–70, for def. 2; Middle English tong(e) (singular), tongen, tonges (plural), Old English; cognate with Dutch tang,German Zange pair of tongs or pincers; akin to Greek dáknein to bite

Other words from tong

  • tonger, noun

Words that may be confused with tong

Words Nearby tong

Other definitions for tong (2 of 2)

tong2
[ tawng, tong ]

noun
  1. (in China) an association, society, or political party.

  2. (among Chinese living in the U.S.) a fraternal or secret society, often associated with criminal activities.

Origin of tong

2
1880–85, Americanism;<dialectal Chinese (Guangdong) tòhng, akin to Chinese táng meeting hall

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use tong in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tong (1 of 2)

tong1

/ (tɒŋ) /


verb(tr)
  1. to gather or seize with tongs

  2. to curl or style (hair) with curling tongs

British Dictionary definitions for tong (2 of 2)

tong2

/ (tɒŋ) /


noun
  1. (formerly) a Chinese secret society or association, esp one popularly assumed to engage in criminal activities

Origin of tong

2
C20: from Chinese (Cantonese) t'ong meeting place

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with tong

tong

see hammer and tongs.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.