prong

American  

[prawng, prong] / prɔŋ, prɒŋ /

noun

1. one of the pointed tines of a fork.

2. any pointed, projecting part, as of an antler.

   Synonyms:

   spur, tooth, hook

3. a branch of a stream.

4. Jewelry. a tapering metal projection, usually heavier than a claw, rising from the base of a jewelry setting and used to hold a stone in position as needed.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to pierce or stab with or as if with a prong.

2. to supply with prongs.

prong British  

/ prɒŋ /

noun

1. a sharply pointed end of an instrument, such as on a fork

2. any pointed projecting part

---

verb

1. (tr) to prick or spear with or as if with a prong

Other Word Forms

• pronged adjective

Etymology

Origin of prong

1400–50; late Middle English pronge, prange pain, affliction, pointed instrument; akin to Old Swedish prang gorge, narrow street, Middle Low German prange stake, prangen to press, Gothic anaprangan to oppress

Example Sentences

And that’s the next prong of the attack—that the Fed staff simply isn’t doing that correctly.

From Barron's

And that’s the next prong of the attack—that the Fed staff simply isn’t doing that correctly.

From Barron's

They placed their stars on the prongs of three antlers.

From Literature

Bureau of Prisons officials then detained Anderson and searched his bag, where they found a large "barbeque type fork" with two prongs and a tool that resembles a pizza cutter.

From BBC

Close to 60 defendants have been convicted, and federal prosecutors last week charged the 78th person in a prong of the cases that authorities called “the largest Covid-19 fraud scheme in the country.”

From The Wall Street Journal