tweezers

tweez·er

[twee-zerz]

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)

1. small pincers or nippers for plucking out hairs, extracting splinters, picking up small objects, etc.

tweezers

/ ˈtwiːzəz /

plural noun

1. Also called: pair of tweezers.  tweezer. a small pincer-like instrument for handling small objects, plucking out hairs, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of tweezers¹

First recorded in 1645–55; plural of tweezer, equivalent to obsolete tweeze “case of surgical instruments” (aphetic form of earlier etweese, from French étuis, plural of étui, noun derivative of Old French étuier “to keep,” from Latin stūdiāre “to care for”) + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tweezers¹

C17: plural of tweezer (on the model of scissors , etc), from tweeze case of instruments, from French étuis cases (of instruments), from Old French estuier to preserve, from Vulgar Latin studiāre (unattested) to keep, from Latin studēre to care about

Example Sentences

If a tick has burrowed into your skin - it must be removed as soon as possible using a tick tool or tweezers.

From BBC

With a pair of bright pink tweezers in hand, Emma Teni is delicately wrestling a large and leggy spider in a small plastic pot.

From BBC

It has tweezers, whatever backgrounds I’m working with and cutting tools that are usually ballpoint pens that have run out of ink.

From Los Angeles Times

In the virtual reality environment, participants had either a human-like hand or "bionic tool" resembling a large pair of tweezers grafted onto the end of their wrist.

From Science Daily

Your first aid kit should include bandages, antiseptic wipes, scissors, tweezers, pain relievers and prescription medications.

From Seattle Times