Tonkin

[ ton-kin, tong- ]

/ ˈtɒnˈkɪn, ˈtɒŋ- /

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noun

a former state in northern French Indochina, now part of Vietnam.

Gulf of Tonkin, an arm of the South China Sea, west of Hainan. 300 miles (485 km) long.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Also Tong·king

[tong-king], /ˈtɒŋˈkɪŋ/, Ton·king

[ton-king, tong-] /ˈtɒnˈkɪŋ, ˈtɒŋ-/ .

Words nearby Tonkin

tonicity, tonic sol-fa, tonight, tonk, tonka bean, Tonkin, Tonkinese, Tonle Sap, tonlet, ton-mile, tonn.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Tonkin in a sentence

Similarly, the second Gulf of Tonkin attack on American warships on August 4, 1964, was used to escalate American involvement in Vietnam.
Deepfakes could help us relive history—or rewrite it|Nir Eisikovits/The Conversation|November 8, 2021|Popular-Science
“Because Eric Frein was arrested tonight, the children can go on and have Halloween tomorrow,” Tonkin noted.
Killer Eric Frein Held in Murdered Cop’s Cuffs|Michael Daly|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tonkin said he expected Frein to be brought before a judge sometime on Friday, which happens to be Halloween.
Killer Eric Frein Held in Murdered Cop’s Cuffs|Michael Daly|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Think military advisors, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and mission creep.
Obama’s Syrian “Red Line” Could Return Us To The Mistakes of Iraq|Lloyd Green|May 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Conspiracy theorists muttered about a Gulf of Tonkin situation where a naval incident could be a pretext for wider hostilities.
Shocking Gulf Firefight Caught on Tape|Michael Adler|July 5, 2011|DAILY BEAST
His appeal had no immediate result, and he then prepared to return to Tonkin, but he received an order to go elsewhere.
The Jesuits, 1534-1921|Thomas J. Campbell
He set sail again, but was driven ashore on the Island of Formosa and never reached Tonkin.
The Jesuits, 1534-1921|Thomas J. Campbell
You have disapproved a small expedition to Tonkin and we are a little more serious than the Tonkinese.
A Fantasy of Far Japan|Baron Kencho Suyematsu
In the cup, Tonkin coffee is thought by French traders to compare favorably with Mocha.
All About Coffee|William H. Ukers
From the mountain-tops which formed their original kingdom they have penetrated into Tonkin, Annam and the region of the lakes.
Indo-China and Its Primitive People|Henry Baudesson

British Dictionary definitions for Tonkin

Tonkin

Tongking (ˈtɒŋˈkɪŋ)

/ (ˈtɒnˈkɪn) /

noun

a former state of N French Indochina (1883–1946), on the Gulf of Tonkin: forms the largest part of N Vietnam

Gulf of Tonkin an arm of the South China Sea, bordered by N Vietnam, the Leizhou Peninsula of SW China, and Hainan Island. Length: about 500 km (300 miles)

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