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

see origin at tong ¹

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Explanation

Tongs are a tool for picking things up. Large kitchen tongs can be used for flipping burgers on the grill or rescuing ears of corn that have fallen into the coals. Tongs are the tool that you use to grip something and lift it. They are usually jointed near the handle, with two grippers at the other end, so that you can one-handedly grasp objects. You might use tongs to move something hot, like food or burning logs, or to serve food such as salad, sugar cubes, or noodles. The Germanic root means "that which bites."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tongs

I may need to open my emails with metal tongs for the next 48 hours.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Oliver James, another flatmate who is studying zoology, transferred the scorpion into a plastic container with kitchen tongs.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2024

Add the lobster meat and toss to combine using tongs.

From Salon ● Sep. 1, 2024

Use clean tongs, cutting boards and plates for serving cooked food.

From Seattle Times ● May 27, 2024

I watched him cleaning his master’s woolen coat; he was wrapping wet scraps of brown paper about hot coals, and, with a tongs, dousing grease spots with the steaming paper.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

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