tour

[toor]

noun

1. a traveling around from place to place.

2. a long journey including the visiting of a number of places in sequence, especially with an organized group led by a guide.

   Synonyms: expedition, trip

3. a brief trip through a place, as a building or a site, in order to view or inspect it.

   The visiting prime minister was given a tour of the chemical plant.

4. a journey from town to town to fulfill engagements, as by a theatrical company or an entertainer.

   to go on tour; a European concert tour.

5. a period of duty at one place or in one job.

verb (used without object)

1. to travel from place to place.

   Synonyms: visit

2. to travel from town to town fulfilling engagements.

verb (used with object)

1. to travel through (a place).

   Synonyms: visit

2. to send or take (a theatrical company, its production, etc.) from town to town.

3. to guide (someone) on a tour.

   He toured us through the chateaus of the Loire Valley.

tour

/ tʊə /

noun

1. an extended journey, usually taken for pleasure, visiting places of interest along the route

2. military a period of service, esp in one place of duty

3. a short trip, as for inspection

4. a trip made by a theatre company, orchestra, etc, to perform in several different places

   a concert tour

5. an overseas trip made by a cricket or rugby team, etc, to play in several places

verb

1. to make a tour of (a place)

2. to perform (a show) or promote (a product) in several different places

Other Word Forms

• minitour noun
• untoured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tour¹

1250–1300; Middle English (noun) < Middle French < Latin tornus < Greek tórnos tool for making a circle. See turn

Word History and Origins

Origin of tour¹

C14: from Old French: a turn, from Latin tornus a lathe, from Greek tornos; compare _turn

Example Sentences

Vessel captain Will Whatley said during the tour that it was "designed for icebreaking and is very capable", noting the crew can keep working even in "really stormy" Southern Ocean seas.

Read more on Barron's

James added that he spoke to Buckingham Palace about the book and was given a three-and-a-half-hour tour around the palace, which he said helped him set the scene in his book.

Read more on BBC

The artist said last month that he would not book any U.S. dates for his tour over fears that fans would be swept up by ICE.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

About a month before Scotland went on their summer tour, Townsend got a phone call from what he calls "a respected person in sport", suggesting a Zoom call with an unidentified party.

Read more on BBC

On tour, he started steroids to ease the strain on his vocal chords but took too high a dosage, which weakened his immune system.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• circuit 
• course 
• cruise 
• excursion 
• expedition 
• outing 
• road 
• round 
• swing 
• travel 
• trek 
• trip