noun

tong

noun

A gripping tool with two hinged arms, used to pick up or hold something (usually hot or awkward) without touching it directly.

"She used the tongs to turn the steaks on the grill."

"The blacksmith gripped the glowing iron with a pair of long tongs."

A Chinese-American community or family association, historically often organized around a shared clan name or hometown.

"The tong helped new immigrants find housing and work in the city."

Historically, a Chinese secret society or organized crime group, especially one active in North American Chinatowns in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

"Old newspaper accounts describe a tong war breaking out over control of gambling dens."

verb

To pick up, move, or handle something with tongs.

"He tonged a few ice cubes into each glass."

How to Use Tong

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsually seen as "tongs" — the two-armed gripping tool. A separate, unrelated meaning refers to Chinese community associations or (historically) secret societies.

Common mistake

The kitchen tool is almost always plural, "tongs," even for a single pair; "a tong" sounds odd to most English speakers.

Common pairings

a pair of tongs kitchen tongs tong war

Word Forms

tonged past tense, tongs plural, tongs plural, Tongs plural, tongs singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “tong” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She used the _____ to turn the steaks on the grill.

Etymology

From Old English tange, related to German Zange — ultimately from a root meaning "to bite," since tongs grip like a pair of jaws. The unrelated "Chinese association" sense comes from a different, Cantonese-derived word.

Rhymes for tong

Ong song long pong gong mong bong Kong hong dong nong jong

See all rhymes for tong →