tournament
[too r-nuh-muh nt, tur-]
- a trial of skill in some game, in which competitors play a series of contests: a chess tournament.
- a meeting for contests in a variety of sports, as between teams of different nations.
- History/Historical.
- a contest or martial sport in which two opposing parties of mounted and armored combatants fought for a prize, with blunted weapons and in accordance with certain rules.
- a meeting at an appointed time and place for the performance of knightly exercises and sports.
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Origin of tournament
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for tournament
Contemporary Examples
Collins said that most of her knowledge is from “here and there,” so there was no need to cram before the tournament.
The tournament itself is like the second season of a reality show.
Interestingly Germany began this tournament trying to play Barcelona style with a plethora of midfielders.
He seemed miffed, after the game, to be adjudged the best player of the tournament.
Early on in the tournament, hardcore Argentina fans spoofed the Argentina roster listing Pope Francis as a team member.
Pope Francis v. Pope Benedict: Who Will God Favor In World Cup Final?Barbie Latza Nadeau
July 10, 2014
Historical Examples
The regulations and laws of the tournament were very minute.
English VillagesP. H. Ditchfield
You must enter the tournament—Mother, did you remember about the cup and the—you know?
The Innocent AdventuressMary Hastings Bradley
There was almost a tournament of rivalry in describing sufferings.
In a Little TownRupert Hughes
The first tournament is treated in the poem of Luca Pulci, ed.
The Civilisation of the Renaissance in ItalyJacob Burckhardt
It may be as well to explain the difference between a tournament and a joust.
Chatterbox, 1905.Various
tournament
- a sporting competition in which contestants play a series of games to determine an overall winner
- a meeting for athletic or other sporting contestantsan archery tournament
- medieval history
- (originally) a martial sport or contest in which mounted combatants fought for a prize
- (later) a meeting for knightly sports and exercises
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French torneiement, from torneier to fight on horseback, literally: to turn, from the constant wheeling round of the combatants; see tourney
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for tournament
n.
c.1300, "medieval martial arts contest," from Old French torneiement "contest between groups of knights on horseback" (mid-12c.), from torneier "to joust, tilt" (see tourney). Modern use, in reference to games of skill, is recorded from 1761.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper