tong

[ tawng, tong ]

/ tɔŋ, tɒŋ /

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See synonyms for: tong / tongs on Thesaurus.com

noun

tongs.

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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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

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Origin of tong

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

thong, tong , tongue

Words nearby tong

tonetic, tonetics, tonette, tone-up, ton-force, tong, tonga, Tongan, Tongass National Forest, Tonghua, tongman

Definition 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

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. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for tong

Using tongs, turn over the chimichangas and cook for an additional two to three minutes or until light golden brown.
The Complete Guide to Air Fryers|Christine Byrne|April 7, 2021|Outside Online
Remove from the oven and, using tongs, redistribute them so they can continue to cook evenly.
A one-pan salmon dinner with minty peas, orange and fennel|Daniela Galarza|April 1, 2021|Washington Post
To test the petals, use tongs to grasp the artichoke and use a kitchen towel to pull on a petal or two.
How to prep, cook and enjoy stuffed artichokes|Ann Maloney|March 11, 2021|Washington Post
Flip the legs over, ideally using tongs, but take care not to tear the skin or meat.
Harissa-glazed turkey legs with sweet potatoes deliver big flavor on a budget|Becky Krystal|November 10, 2020|Washington Post

Using tongs, gently squeeze the base of each potato to open and fan the slices.
This whole herb-roasted chicken with Hasselback potatoes is a holiday-ready sheet-pan dinner|Ann Maloney|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
Around that time, in 1972, Chinese-American restaurateur Michael Tong opened Shun Lee Palace on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
‘The Search for General Tso’: The Origins of America’s Favorite Chinese Dish, General Tso’s Chicken|Marlow Stern|April 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their goal, he argues, is not world domination but da tong: “great harmony.”
Dr. K’s Rx for China|Niall Ferguson|May 17, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Senator Mitch McConnell of Wherever are going at it hammer and tong.
Let the Democrats Win|Christopher Buckley|April 14, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The Treasurie of the French Tong: teaching the waye to varie all sortes of verbes.
The Teaching and Cultivation of the French Language in England during Tudor and Stuart Times|Kathleen Lambley
Now, what I want to know is what the Hop Sing tong means by shipping the departed brethren by freight?
Captain Scraggs|Peter B. Kyne
But behind the voual in our tong (so far as yet I can fynd) it hath no use.
Of the Orthographie and Congruitie of the Britan Tongue|Alexander Hume
At the last-mentioned place it receives the Roch, and then goes westward to Farnworth, where it is joined by the Tong.
The Rivers of Great Britain; Rivers of the South and West Coasts|Various
They make some distinction in another instance when speaking of crying, they say the men Tong-i; the women Tong-e.
An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Vol. 1|David Collins

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

Idioms and Phrases with tong

tong

see hammer and tongs.

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tong

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

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Origin of tong

OTHER WORDS FROM tong

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tong

Words nearby tong

Definition for tong (2 of 2)

noun

Origin of tong

Example sentences from the Web for tong

British Dictionary definitions for tong (1 of 2)

verb (tr)

British Dictionary definitions for tong (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for tong

Idioms and Phrases with tong