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tong
1[ tawng, tong ]
/ tɔŋ, tɒŋ /
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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.
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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
OTHER WORDS FROM tong
tonger, nounWords nearby tong
Other definitions for tong (2 of 2)
tong2
[ 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. 2022
How to use tong in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for tong (1 of 2)
tong1
/ (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)
tong2
/ (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
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.