Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

tong

[tawng, tong]

Origin

Tongue Diagnosis www.lifescript.com/ What Your Tongue Can Reveal About Your Health. Learn Tongue Analysis

noun

tongs.

verb (used with object)

to lift, seize, gather, hold, or handle with tongs, as logs or oysters.

00:10

00:09

00:08

00:07

00:06

00:05

00:04

00:03

00:02

00:01

Tong is one of our favorite verbs.

So is bowdlerise. Does it mean:

to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.

to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.

LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

verb (used without object)

to use, or work with, tongs.

Origin:
before 900; 1865–70, for def. 2; Middle English tong(e) (singular), tongen, tonges (plural), Old English; cognate with Dutch tang, German Zange pair of tongs or pincers; akin to Greek dáknein to bite

Related forms

tong·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged

noun

(in China) an association, society, or political party.

(among Chinese living in the U.S.) a fraternal or secret society, often associated with criminal activities.

Origin:
1880–85, Americanism; < dialectal Chinese (Guangdong) tòhng, akin to Chinese táng meeting hall

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source

Link To tong

Collins

World English Dictionary

tong¹ (tɒŋ)

—vb
1.	to gather or seize with tongs
2.	to curl or style (hair) with curling tongs

tong² (tɒŋ)

—n
	(formerly) a Chinese secret society or association, esp one popularly assumed to engage in criminal activities

[C20: from Chinese (Cantonese) t'ong meeting place]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

Tong

"Chinese secret society," 1883, from Cantonese t'ong "assembly hall."

American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

tong

see hammer and tongs.