# tongs

> English word · Noun · IPA /tɒŋz/ · frequency rank #37,257

## Definitions
1. 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.
2. 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.

## Etymology
tong ("tool for manipulating things in a fire") + -s

## Easily confused with
- **TOS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tos)
- **Tony** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tony)
- **tons** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tons)
- **toys** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-toys)
- **tops** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tops)
- **toss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-toss)
- **Toni** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-toni)
- **tung** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tung)
- **tugs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tugs)
- **tonk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tonk)
- **tough** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tough)
- **tools** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tools)
- **towns** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-towns)
- **Tours** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tours)
- **tunes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tunes)
- **tonic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tonic)
- **tonne** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tonne)
- **Tunis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tunis)
- **totes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-totes)
- **Tonya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tongs-vs-tonya)

## Common misspellings (8)
`otngs`, `tnogs`, `togns`, `tonggs`, `tongss`, `tonngs`, `tonsg`, `ttongs`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/tongs