tournament

[ too r-nuh-muh nt, tur- ]
/ ˈtʊər nə mənt, ˈtɜr- /

noun

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.
  1. 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.
  2. a meeting at an appointed time and place for the performance of knightly exercises and sports.

Origin of tournament

1175–1225; Middle English tornement < Old French torneiement, equivalent to torne(ier) to tourney + -ment -ment

OTHER WORDS FROM tournament

pre·tour·na·ment, noun

Example sentences from the Web for tournament

British Dictionary definitions for tournament

tournament
/ (ˈtʊənəmənt, ˈtɔː-, ˈtɜː-) /

noun

a sporting competition in which contestants play a series of games to determine an overall winner
a meeting for athletic or other sporting contestants an archery tournament
medieval history
  1. (originally) a martial sport or contest in which mounted combatants fought for a prize
  2. (later) a meeting for knightly sports and exercises

Word Origin for tournament

C13: from Old French torneiement, from torneier to fight on horseback, literally: to turn, from the constant wheeling round of the combatants; see tourney