tongs

American  

[tawngz, tongz] / tɔŋz, tɒŋz /

noun

(usually used with a plural verb)

1. any of various implements consisting of two arms hinged, pivoted, or otherwise fastened together, for seizing, holding, or lifting something (usually used withpair of ).

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tongs British  

/ tɒŋz /

plural noun

1. Also called: pair of tongs.  a tool for grasping or lifting, consisting of a hinged, sprung, or pivoted pair of arms or levers, joined at one end

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Etymology

Origin of tongs

tong ¹

Example Sentences

Ms Hall had told police and paramedics she had got the knife out to cut garlic bread and placed them next to some tongs.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2025

Add the lobster meat and toss to combine using tongs.

From Salon • Sep. 1, 2024

Ms. Tapia has been looking for her son, Gustavo Daryl, since he was abducted in 2018 from his food stand, apron on and grill tongs in hand.

From New York Times • Jan. 25, 2024

While muffins are still warm, use tongs to dip each muffin in melted butter and pecan-sugar mixture, or use a pastry brush to brush butter on each muffin before rolling in pecan sugar.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 23, 2024

Mrs. Weasley took a piece of buttered toast from a stack on the kitchen table, put it into the fire tongs, and transferred it into Mr. Diggory’s mouth.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling