tournament

tour·na·ment

noun \ˈtu̇r-nə-mənt also ˈtər- or ˈtȯr-\

Definition of TOURNAMENT

1

a : a knightly sport of the Middle Ages between mounted combatants armed with blunted lances or swords and divided into two parties contesting for a prize or favor bestowed by the lady of the tournament

b : the whole series of knightly sports, jousts, and tilts occurring at one time and place

2

: a series of games or contests that make up a single unit of competition (as on a professional golf tour), the championship play-offs of a league or conference, or an invitational event

Examples of TOURNAMENT

1. She's an excellent tennis player who has won many tournaments.
2. <a golf tournament in which professionals compete against amateurs>

Origin of TOURNAMENT

Middle English tornement, from Anglo-French turneiement, from turneier

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to TOURNAMENT

Synonyms

bout, competition, contest, event, match, matchup, meet, sweepstakes (also sweep-stake), game, tourney

Related Words

athletics, sport; battle, conflict, scrimmage, skirmish, struggle, tug-of-war, tussle; championship, national(s); final, nightcap, play-off, semifinal; derby, field day, gymkhana, open, outing; biathlon, decathlon, heptathlon, pentathlon, triathlon; marathon, race, ultramarathon; heat, round, run, set; rally, volley; round-robin, rubber, runoff, sudden death; dead heat, photo finish, seesaw; classic

Other General Sports Terms

kegler, mulligan, rappel, turkey

Rhymes with TOURNAMENT

ornament