plierspli‧ers /ˈplaɪəz $ -ərz/ noun [plural] 
a small tool made of two crossed pieces of metal, used to hold small things or to bend and cut wire: 
a pair of pliers
WORD ORIGINpliers
Origin:
1500-1600 ply ‘to twist together’ (14-21 centuries), from Old French plier, from Latin plicareEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Eight women sent away for instruction booklets, pliers, beads, crosses and hundreds of feet of wire.
- He had to know when the pliers clamped down, so he could start the count.
- He put down is pliers and looked up at her.
- His teeth were extracted with pliers and he was dragged by the tail of a galloping horse.
- Mr Reaves himself likens his operation to tinkering on a Model A Ford with screwdrivers and a pair of pliers.
- The valve can still be operated by gripping the stub in a pair of pliers, but it will defeat small children.
- They should now be secured by carefully bending their leads, using long-nosed pliers, at right angles as shown.
- This has often meant having to use pliers and then replacing the staples with new ones.
WORD SETS
adze, nounair pump, nounanvil, nounattachment, nounauger, nounawl, nounaxe, nounbargepole, nounbattleaxe, nounbevel, nounbillhook, nounbit, nounblade, nounboat hook, nounbox end wrench, nounbradawl, nounbranding iron, nounBunsen burner, nounbuzz saw, nouncalculator, nouncallipers, nouncard, nounchainsaw, nounchisel, nouncircular saw, nounclaw, nouncraft knife, nouncrowbar, nouncutter, noundrill, noundropper, noundynamo, nounendoscope, nounfile, nounfile, verbgenerator, noungimlet, noungizmo, noungrappling iron, noungrindstone, nounhacksaw, nounhammer, nounhandsaw, nounharrow, nounhatchet, nounhigh-pressure, adjectiveinstrument, nounjack, nounjackhammer, nounjemmy, nounjigsaw, nounjimmy, nounknitting needle, nounlast, nounlevel, nounlever, nounmachete, nounmallet, nounmattock, nounmonkey wrench, nounnutcracker, nounpenknife, nounperiscope, nounpick, nounpickaxe, nounpinking shears, nounplane, nounplaner, nounpliers, nounplough, nounplumb line, nounplunger, nounpneumatic drill, nounpower drill, nounpower tool, nounprod, nounpulley, nounpunch, nounram, nounrasp, nounretool, verbriddle, nounrose, nounruler, nounsander, nounsandpaper, nounsaw, nounscissors, nounscraper, nounscrewdriver, nounshaft, nounshank, nounsickle, nounsieve, nounsledgehammer, nounsoldering iron, nounspanner, nounspirit level, nounspray gun, nounsquare, nounstamp, nounstaple gun, nounstripper, nountape, nountape measure, nountheodolite, nounthermometer, nounthermostat, nountomahawk, nountongs, nountool, nountool kit, nountriangle, nountrowel, nounT-square, nountwo-handed, adjectivewand, nounwedge, nounwhet, verbwhetstone, nounwire cutters, nounworkbench, nounyoke, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a pair of pliers
a pair of pliersa small tool made of two crossed pieces of metal, used to hold small things or to bend and cut wire: a pair of pliers