PAIR OF TONGS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pair of tongs mean? 

• PAIR OF TONGS (noun)
  The noun PAIR OF TONGS has 1 sense:

1. any of various devices for taking hold of objects; usually have two hinged legs with handles above and pointed hooks below

  Familiarity information: PAIR OF TONGS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PAIR OF TONGS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of various devices for taking hold of objects; usually have two hinged legs with handles above and pointed hooks below

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

pair of tongs; tongs

Hypernyms ("pair of tongs" is a kind of...):

device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)

Domain usage:

plural; plural form (the form of a word that is used to denote more than one)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pair of tongs"):

coal tongs; fire tongs (tongs for taking hold of burning coals)

ice tongs (tongs for lifting blocks of ice)

 Context examples 

I pointed to the dead rat, smiling, and making other signs to show I was not hurt; whereat she was extremely rejoiced, calling the maid to take up the dead rat with a pair of tongs, and throw it out of the window.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)