Pliers: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in manual tasks to grip, bend, or cut materials like wires or small objects. Commonly used in household repairs and electrical work.

• He used pliers to fix the broken wire.
• You’ll need pliers to tighten that bolt.

General term that can refer to tools or devices designed to grasp or hold objects firmly. Often found in industrial or robotic applications.

• The machine's grippers picked up the pieces of metal with precision.
• He used grippers to handle the hot materials safely.

Typically used in cooking or serving food to handle hot or delicate items. Also used in other contexts where objects need to be grasped without direct contact.

• She used tongs to serve the salad.
• The chef grabbed the hot pan with tongs.

Used primarily in medical or biological contexts to handle tissues or other small, delicate items. Common in surgeries or lab work.

• The surgeon used forceps to remove the splinter.
• In the lab, she carefully used forceps to transfer the specimen.