tong

¹

[ tawng, tong ]

noun

1. tongs.

verb (used with object)

1. to lift, seize, gather, hold, or handle with tongs, as logs or oysters.

verb (used without object)

1. to use, or work with, tongs.

tong

²

[ tawng, tong ]

noun

1. (in China) an association, society, or political party.
2. (among Chinese living in the U.S.) a fraternal or secret society, often associated with criminal activities.

tong

¹

/ tɒŋ /

noun

1. (formerly) a Chinese secret society or association, esp one popularly assumed to engage in criminal activities

tong

²

/ tɒŋ /

verb

1. to gather or seize with tongs
2. to curl or style (hair) with curling tongs

Other Words From

• tonger noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tong¹

before 900; 1865–70, tong ¹fordef 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

Origin of tong²

1880–85, Americanism; < dialectal Chinese (Guangdong) tòhng, akin to Chinese táng meeting hall

Word History and Origins

Origin of tong¹

C20: from Chinese (Cantonese) t'ong meeting place

Idioms and Phrases

see hammer and tongs .

Example Sentences

You need a great spatula, a strong pair of tongs, a comfortable serving fork, and a safe way to clean your grill.

From Popular-Science

From today’s WiFi and Bluetooth grills to new tongs, the best and brightest grill gear is the secret sauce of a memorable summer.

From Popular-Science

Using tongs or a spatula, flip the sausages over and toss the onions and peppers so that they cook evenly.

From Washington Post

Using a spider or tongs, stir the potatoes gently, to ensure they aren’t sticking together.

From Washington Post

Alvarez-Roos suggests using the longest tongs that storage space will allow.

From Outside Online

Around that time, in 1972, Chinese-American restaurateur Michael Tong opened Shun Lee Palace on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

From The Daily Beast

Their goal, he argues, is not world domination but da tong: “great harmony.”

From The Daily Beast

Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Senator Mitch McConnell of Wherever are going at it hammer and tong.

From The Daily Beast

The Treasurie of the French Tong: teaching the waye to varie all sortes of verbes.

From Project Gutenberg

Now, what I want to know is what the Hop Sing tong means by shipping the departed brethren by freight?

From Project Gutenberg

But behind the voual in our tong (so far as yet I can fynd) it hath no use.

From Project Gutenberg

At the last-mentioned place it receives the Roch, and then goes westward to Farnworth, where it is joined by the Tong.

From Project Gutenberg

They make some distinction in another instance when speaking of crying, they say the men Tong-i; the women Tong-e.

From Project Gutenberg