definitions

tong

1
[ tawng, tong ]
/ tɔŋ, tɒŋ /
|

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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Nearby words

toneme, toner, tonetic, tonetics, tonette, tong, tonga, tongan, tongass national forest, tonghua, tongking

Origin of tong

1
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

Related forms

tong·er, noun

Can be confused

thong tong tongue

Definition 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

2
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. 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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.