tong
1[ tawng, tong ]
/ tɔŋ, tɒŋ /
|
noun
verb (used with object)
to lift, seize, gather, hold, or handle with tongs, as logs or oysters.
verb (used without object)
to use, or work with, tongs.
Nearby words
toner, tonetic, tonetician, tonetics, tonette, tong, tonga, tongan, tongass national forest, tonghua, tongking
Origin of tong
1before 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
Related forms
tong·er, nounDefinition for tong (2 of 2)
tong
2[ tawng, tong ]
/ tɔŋ, tɒŋ /
noun
(in China) an association, society, or political party.
(among Chinese living in the U.S.) a fraternal or secret society, often associated with criminal activities.
Origin of tong
21880–85, Americanism; < dialectal Chinese (Guangdong) tòhng, akin to Chinese táng meeting hall
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for tong
British Dictionary definitions for tong (1 of 2)
tong
1/ (tɒŋ) /
verb (tr)
to gather or seize with tongs
to curl or style (hair) with curling tongs
British Dictionary definitions for tong (2 of 2)
tong
2/ (tɒŋ) /
noun
(formerly) a Chinese secret society or association, esp one popularly assumed to engage in criminal activities
Word Origin for tong
C20: from Chinese (Cantonese) t'ong meeting place
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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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.