What does "prong" mean?
A thin, pointed, projecting part, as of an antler or a fork or similar tool.
Prong
/pɹɔŋ/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A thin, pointed, projecting part, as of an antler or a fork or similar tool.
- Grammar: prong is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: affluent, arm, barb, barbs.
- Useful contrasts: base, center, core.
- Usage evidence: A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong.
How to use "prong"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "prong" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "prong" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "prong" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "prong" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "prong" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "affluent" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "prong", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A thin, pointed, projecting part, as of an antler or a fork or similar tool.
"a pitchfork with four prongs"
- 2 a pointed projection wordnet
- 3 A branch; a fork. figuratively, sometimes
"the two prongs of a river"
- 4 A fork (agricultural tool). Cornwall
"[…] a tradition is recorded that a man called 'Ralph' resided in this cavern for many years, and, with a prong as his weapon, successively kept the bailiffs at bay."
- 5 The penis. colloquial
"One look at that lifeguard's prong gave me a throbber like a baseball bat — not quite that big, of course, but at least that hard!"
Verb
- 1 To pierce or poke with, or as if with, a prong.
"He uncovered the fragrant eggs and b., and I pronged a moody forkful."
Example
"A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "prong"?
Common synonyms include: affluent, arm, barb, barbs, bayou, belt tongue.
How do you use "prong" in a sentence?
A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong.
How do you pronounce "prong"?
Pronounced /pɹɔŋ/.
Etymology
From Middle English pronge, perhaps from Middle Low German prange (“stick, restraining device”), from prangen (“to press, pinch”), from Old Saxon *prangan, from Proto-West Germanic *prangan, from Proto-Germanic *pranganą (“to press”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)preng- (“to wrap up, constrict”). Akin to Lithuanian spriñgti (“to choke, become choked or obstructed”), Latvian sprañgât (“cord, constrict”), Ancient Greek σπαργανόω (sparganóō, “to swaddle”), σπάργανον (spárganon, “swaddling cloth”). See also prank, prance, prink.