1. noun /tɒŋ/
a) An instrument or tool used for manipulating things in a fire without touching them with the hands.
these attributes are concrete expressions of Gods care and providence and therefore not man-made. This explains the quite bizarre presence of a ‘pair’ of tongs in some lists: in order to make a tong one needs a tong, and how could the first tong be made without a tong?
b) A Chinese secret society or gang.
2. verb /tɒŋ/
a) To use tongs.
Wikipedia foundation.