tong 1 (tông, tŏng) tr.v. tonged, tong·ing, tongs To seize, hold, or manipulate with tongs. [Back-formation from tongs.] tong 2 (tông, tŏng) n. 1. A Chinese association or political party. 2. An association or a secret society of Chinese in the United States, believed to be involved in organized crime. [Cantonese tong4, assembly hall, familial ...