tongs

== English == === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /tɒŋz/ (General American) IPA(key): /tɔŋz/ (cot–caught merger) IPA(key): /tɑŋz/ Rhymes: -ɒŋz, -ɔːŋz === Etymology 1 === tong ("tool for manipulating things in a fire") + -s ==== Noun ==== tongs pl (plural only) An instrument or tool used for picking things up without touching them with the hands or fingers, consisting of two slats or grips hinged at the end or in the middle, and sometimes including a spring to open the grips. (by extension) A large scissors-like two-piece center-hinged forged-iron implement with oval-loop handles and with pointed tips turned inward (in the same plane as and perpendicular to the handles) to facilitate lifting and carrying a block of ice. Often called ice tongs. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ===== See also ===== forceps pair of tongs pincers pliers scissors shears tong tweezers === Etymology 2 === ==== Noun ==== tongs plural of tong (“instrument”) === Etymology 3 === ==== Verb ==== tongs third-person singular simple present indicative of tong === Etymology 4 === ==== Noun ==== tongs plural of tong (“Chinese secret society”) === Anagrams === Stong, stong == Chinese == === Etymology === Pseudo-English form of 唐氏 (tong4 si6), short for 唐氏綜合症 / 唐氏综合症 (tong4 si6 zung3 hap6 zing3). === Pronunciation === === Noun === tongs (Hong Kong Cantonese, transport fandom slang, derogatory) ill-behaved bus or railfan ==== Synonyms ==== 巴膠 / 巴胶 (baa1 gaau1) (for bus fandom) 鐵膠 / 铁胶 (tit3 gaau1) (for railway)