on tour

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tour /tʊr/   n. [countable]

1. a long journey including the visiting of a number of places:
   a tour of the Greek islands.
2. a brief trip through a place to view or inspect it:
   an inspection tour.
3. Military a period of duty:
   The lieutenant's last tour of duty was in Korea.

v. 

4. to travel from place to place: [~ + object]
   They toured the Greek islands.
   [no object]
   They toured for a few seasons.
5. to travel from town to town giving performances: [~ + object]
   The band toured the Midwest.
   [no object]
   The band toured for several weeks.

Idioms

6. on tour, (of a musical or dramatic performer, group, or company) traveling from town to town and making performances in each.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tour  (tŏŏr), n. 

1. a traveling around from place to place.
2. a long journey including the visiting of a number of places in sequence, esp. with an organized group led by a guide.
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.

v.i. 

6. to travel from place to place.
7. to travel from town to town fulfilling engagements.

v.t. 

8. to travel through (a place).
9. to send or take (a theatrical company, its production, etc.) from town to town.
10. to guide (someone) on a tour:
    He toured us through the chateaus of the Loire Valley.

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

Synonyms

• 2. trip, expedition.
• 6, 8. visit.