tool and die

noun

An area of activity (concentration or specialty) in manufacturing, comprising toolmaking, diemaking, and (usually also) moldmaking.

“They work in tool and die.”

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Meanings

nountool and die (usually uncountable, plural tools and dies)

plural tools and dies

  1. attributiveuncountableusuallyAn area of activity (concentration or specialty) in manufacturing, comprising toolmaking, diemaking, and (usually also) moldmaking.

    They work in tool and die.

    1 more example

    The toolmakers are employed in tool and die shops.

  2. sometimesuncountableusuallyThe tools and dies made by this specialty.

    Wage rates for tool and die makers differ in various regions of the country.

Origin

Named for the cutting tools and forming dies that are among the principal kinds of tooling that this specialty makes.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

tool and die. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tool%20and%20die

MLA

“tool and die.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tool%20and%20die. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tool and die,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tool%20and%20die.

Source: tool and die on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.