---
title: tongs — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tongs» in the school dictionary: Tongs are a tool with two long arms joined at one end, used to pick up and hold things, such as food on a barbecue, salad, ice cubes or hot coals. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tongs

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Tongs, Science tongs, Curling tongs, hot tool, Hammer, you · **What happens:** be, join, use, pick up, hold, curl · **To what, where:** tool, two long arms, one end, things, hot things, lab

<!-- .vabout -->
«tongs» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [tongs in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tongs.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tongs are a tool with two long arms joined at one end, used to pick up and hold things, such as food on a barbecue, salad, ice cubes or hot coals.

<!-- fold The tree, 31 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tongs:m1:1
# text = Tongs are a tool with two long arms joined at one end, used to pick up and hold things, such as food on a barbecue, salad, ice cubes or hot coals.
1	Tongs	tong	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	8	nummod	_	_
7	long	long	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	arms	arm	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
9	joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	acl	_	_
10	at	at	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	end	end	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	4	parataxis	_	_
15	to	to	PART	TO	_	16	mark	_	_
16	pick	pick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	advcl	_	_
17	up	up	ADP	RP	_	16	compound:prt	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	hold	hold	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	16	conj	_	_
20	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
22	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	24	case	_	_
23	as	as	ADP	IN	_	22	fixed	_	_
24	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	appos	_	_
25	on	on	ADP	IN	_	27	case	_	_
26	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	27	det	_	_
27	barbecue	barbecue	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	29	punct	_	_
29	salad	salad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	24	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	32	punct	_	_
31	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	32	compound	_	_
32	cubes	cube	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	20	appos	_	_
33	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	35	cc	_	_
34	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	35	amod	_	_
35	coals	coal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	32	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Tongs | a tool |  |  |  | with two long arms | tree rules |
| 2 | **join** | participle |  | two long arms *not said here* |  |  | at one end |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Patient |
| 3 | **use** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **pick up** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn discover-84-1 «NP V PP.topic S\_ING»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **hold** | present |  | things |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent thing=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Science tongs (crucible tongs) hold hot things in the lab.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tongs:m2:1
# text = Science tongs (crucible tongs) hold hot things in the lab.
1	Science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	tongs	tong	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
3	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	crucible	crucible	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	tongs	tong	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	5	punct	_	_
7	hold	hold	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obj	_	_
10	in	in	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	lab	lab	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present | Science tongs | hot things |  | the lab |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent thing=Theme in lab=Location |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Curling tongs are a hot tool for curling hair.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tongs:m3:1
# text = Curling tongs are a hot tool for curling hair.
1	Curling	curl	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	amod	_	_
2	tongs	tong	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
3	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	curling	curl	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	acl	_	_
9	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curl** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn coil-9.6-1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present | Curling tongs | a hot tool |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **curl** | gerund | a hot tool *not said here* | hair |  |  |  |  | vn braid-41.2.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hair=Patient |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Hammer and tongs means working or fighting with great force and energy.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tongs:m4:1
# text = Hammer and tongs means working or fighting with great force and energy.
1	Hammer	hammer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
2	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	tongs	tong	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	conj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	working	work	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	fighting	fight	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	conj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	great	great	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	energy	energy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Hammer and tongs |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **work** *not said to happen* | gerund | Hammer and tongs *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **fight** | gerund | Hammer and tongs *not said here* |  |  |  |  | with great force and energy | vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V PP.co-agent»: agent=Agent with force=Co-Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Use the tongs to turn the sausages.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tongs:x1:1
# text = Use the tongs to turn the sausages.
1	Use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	tongs	tong	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	turn	turn	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sausages	sausage	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | imperative | you *not said here* | the tongs |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tong=Patient |
| 2 | **turn** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the sausages |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent sausage=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Pass me the salad tongs, please.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tongs:x2:1
# text = Pass me the salad tongs, please.
1	Pass	pass	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	1	obj	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	salad	salad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	tongs	tong	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
7	please	please	INTJ	UH	_	1	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pass** | imperative | you *not said here* | the salad tongs | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient tong=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In science we held the hot crucible with tongs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tongs:x3:1
# text = In science we held the hot crucible with tongs.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	2	case	_	_
2	science	science	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	held	hold	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
6	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	crucible	crucible	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	with	with	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	tongs	tong	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | past | we | the hot crucible |  | science |  | with tongs | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent crucible=Theme in science=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She picked up the ice cubes with tongs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tongs:x4:1
# text = She picked up the ice cubes with tongs.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	picked	pick	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	up	up	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	ice	ice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	cubes	cube	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	tongs	tong	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **pick up** | past | She | the ice cubes |  |  |  | with tongs | vn discover-84-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cube=Topic |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mum curls her hair with curling tongs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tongs:x5:1
# text = Mum curls her hair with curling tongs.
1	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	curls	curl	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	hair	hair	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	curling	curling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	tongs	tong	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curl** | present | Mum | Mum's hair |  |  |  | with curling tongs | vn braid-41.2.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent hair=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
They were arguing hammer and tongs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tongs:x6:1
# text = They were arguing hammer and tongs.
1	They	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	arguing	argue	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	hammer	hammer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	tongs	tong	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **argue** *speech: disagree* | past · progressive | They | hammer and tongs |  |  |  |  | vn correspond-36.1-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent hammer=Topic |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tongs are a kind of lever.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tongs:x7:1
# text = Tongs are a kind of lever.
1	Tongs	tong	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	kind	kind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
5	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	lever	lever	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Tongs | a kind |  |  |  | of lever | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Are you any good with hammer and tongs?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tongs:x8:1
# text = Are you any good with hammer and tongs?
1	Are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	any	any	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	4	det	_	_
4	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
5	with	with	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	hammer	hammer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	tongs	tong	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | with hammer and tongs; good *property* | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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