Synonyms

tongs

American

[tawngz, tongz] / tɔŋz, tɒŋz /

noun

(usually used with a plural verb)

any of various implements consisting of two arms hinged, pivoted, or otherwise fastened together, for seizing, holding, or lifting something (usually used withpair of ).

tongs British

/ tɒŋz /

plural noun

Also called: pair of tongs. a tool for grasping or lifting, consisting of a hinged, sprung, or pivoted pair of arms or levers, joined at one end

"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

Etymology

Origin of tongs

tong ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

During the play-fight, Ms Hall says she accidentally nipped Vickers with the kitchen tongs.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2025

Use clean tongs, cutting boards and plates for serving cooked food.

From Seattle Times • May 27, 2024

Ms. Tapia has been looking for her son, Gustavo Daryl, since he was abducted in 2018 from his food stand, apron on and grill tongs in hand.

From New York Times • Jan. 25, 2024

Using tongs, grab 5 to 7 chunks of chicken tikka and distribute the pieces over the chana masala.

From Salon • Jan. 2, 2024

Min used a pair of special wooden tongs to carry out the still-hot vases one by one, and placed them carefully into the cart, where Tree-ear had prepared a bed of straw.

From "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023