tong
1 of 2noun
ˈtäŋ 
ˈtȯŋ
: a secret society or fraternal organization especially of Chinese in the U.S. formerly notorious for gang warfare
tong
2 of 2verb
tonged; tonging; tongs
transitive verb
: to take, gather, hold, or handle with tongs
tong oysters
intransitive verb
: to use tongs especially in taking or gathering something
tonger
ˈtäŋ-ər
noun ˈtȯŋ-
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Curtis Chin, Bon Appétit, 22 June 2022 Their success at eluding Daiyu’s predatory madam and the Hip Yee tong, the bloodthirsty gang that controls the brothel, is one of many junctures where Zhang’s novel seems to tilt toward a conventional redemption story. New York Times, 3 Apr. 2022 Mel is against the apartment project and doesn’t want to allow the tong to stay in the building. Oline H. Cogdill, sun-sentinel.com, 14 Dec. 2021 Aligned with Marvel's year-long commemoration of Deadpool, Funko dressed up Wade Wilson's mercenary in various costumes, including a construction worker, a backyard griller (with a gun as a tong), a Roman senator, and even a flamenco dancer. Nina Huang, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2021 Sohla’s sturdy 12-inch tweezers were a runaway hit, proving there’s no right or wrong tong. Mackenzie Chung Fegan, Bon Appétit, 21 Dec. 2020 Ah Sahm suffered a humiliating defeat and was kicked out of his tong for his failure. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 4 Dec. 2020 After spritzing this on, adding soft waves with a tong will add movement and vitality. Tish Weinstock, Vogue, 10 Dec. 2020 This spoiler tong can come in and ruin it for both of them, because Zing has got his own agenda. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 4 Dec. 2020 Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 See More
Noun
Leaders from the tong’s more established chapters around the country had been streaming into town to make sure my grandpa and his friends had things under control. Curtis Chin, Bon Appétit, 22 June 2022 Their success at eluding Daiyu’s predatory madam and the Hip Yee tong, the bloodthirsty gang that controls the brothel, is one of many junctures where Zhang’s novel seems to tilt toward a conventional redemption story. New York Times, 3 Apr. 2022 Mel is against the apartment project and doesn’t want to allow the tong to stay in the building. Oline H. Cogdill, sun-sentinel.com, 14 Dec. 2021 Aligned with Marvel's year-long commemoration of Deadpool, Funko dressed up Wade Wilson's mercenary in various costumes, including a construction worker, a backyard griller (with a gun as a tong), a Roman senator, and even a flamenco dancer. Nina Huang, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2021 Sohla’s sturdy 12-inch tweezers were a runaway hit, proving there’s no right or wrong tong. Mackenzie Chung Fegan, Bon Appétit, 21 Dec. 2020 Ah Sahm suffered a humiliating defeat and was kicked out of his tong for his failure. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 4 Dec. 2020 After spritzing this on, adding soft waves with a tong will add movement and vitality. Tish Weinstock, Vogue, 10 Dec. 2020 This spoiler tong can come in and ruin it for both of them, because Zing has got his own agenda. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 4 Dec. 2020 Verb
His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 His business is quite a bit different from that of traditional watermen, who tong the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries for wild oysters. Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Chinese (Guangdong) tòhng, literally, hall
Verb
tongs
First Known Use
Noun
1883, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1868, in the meaning defined at transitive sense