tweezers

noun

twee·​zers ˈtwē-zərz How to pronounce tweezers (audio)
plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: any of various small metal instruments that are usually held between the thumb and index finger, are used for plucking, holding, or manipulating, and consist of two legs joined at one end

Examples of tweezers in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Aside from the main compartment, a zippered mesh pocket on the lid is perfect for storing contact lenses, tweezers, medicine, and other small necessities. Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Feb. 2023 Set up a mani-pedi station at a table in the dining or living room, and stock it with the necessities: polish colors, base coats, top coats, tweezers, nail files, nail cutters, cuticle pushers, and cuticle scissors. Leah Campano, Seventeen, 30 Jan. 2023 Microscopic tractor beams, better known as optical tweezers, can pull atoms and nanoparticles for use in medicine and research. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 26 Jan. 2023 Optical tweezers were invented by the physicist Arthur Ashkin at the Bell Laboratories in New Jersey during the early 1970s. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2022 Another intern taught her how to spread the jam evenly, monitor the drying process, then use tweezers to assemble the head, thorax, abdomen and wings. Julia Moskin, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Jan. 2023 Lead bartender Dmytro Indiukov of Ukraine delicately snared the bacon with a set of fine tweezers from behind the bar gently adorning the cocktail. Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Dec. 2022 Grab a pair of Yakoda tweezers for yanking out those pesky pin bones. Justin Park, Popular Mechanics, 16 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tweezers.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

obsolete English tweeze, noun, etui, short for obsolete English etweese, from plural of obsolete English etwee, from French étui

First Known Use

1654, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tweezers was in 1654

Dictionary Entries Near tweezers

Cite this Entry

“Tweezers.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tweezers. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tweezers

noun plural
twee·​zers ˈtwē-zərz How to pronounce tweezers (audio)
: a small instrument that is used like pincers in grasping or pulling something

Medical Definition

tweezers

noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction
twee·​zers ˈtwē-zərz How to pronounce tweezers (audio)
: any of various small metal instruments that are usually held between the thumb and index finger, are used for plucking, holding, or manipulating, and consist of two legs joined at one end

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