[tour.na.ment] n [ME tornement, fr. OF torneiement, fr. torneier] (14c) 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 the professional golf tour), the championship play-offs of a league or conference, or an invitational event