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tour de force

Definition of tour de force

Examples of tour de force in a sentence.

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tour de force.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

1802, in the meaning defined above

Dictionary Entries Near tour de force

tour d'horizon

Cite this Entry

“Tour de force.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tour%20de%20force. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.

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tour de force noun

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What does the phrase tour de force mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the phrase tour de force . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

How common is the phrase tour de force ?

How is the phrase tour de force pronounced, british english, where does the phrase tour de force come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the phrase tour de force is in the 1800s.

OED's earliest evidence for tour de force is from 1802, in a letter by Lord Elgin.

tour de force is a borrowing from French.

Etymons: French tour .

Nearby entries

• toupee, n. 1727–
• toupeed, adj. 1847–
• toupet, n. 1728–
• toupeted, adj. 1903–
• toupet-titmouse, n. 1785–
• tour, n. c1320–
• tour, v. 1746–
• Tourangeau, n. & adj. 1883–
• Tourangeois, adj. & n. 1857–
• tourbillion | tourbillon, n. 1477–
• tour de force, n. 1802–
• Tour de France, n. 1922–
• tour d'horizon, n. 1952–
• tourelle, n. c1330–
• tourer, n. 1927–
• tourette, n.¹ 1881–
• Tourette, n.² 1899–
• Tourettism, n. 1981–
• tourification, n. 1802–
• tourify, v. 1820–
• tourifying, adj. 1825–

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Meaning & use

Pronunciation, entry history for tour de force, n..

tour de force, n. was first published in 1913; not yet revised.

tour de force, n. was last modified in July 2023.

Revision of the OED is a long-term project. Entries in oed.com which have not been revised may include:

• corrections and revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations which have been added in subsequent print and online updates.

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into tour de force, n. in July 2023.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1913)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

• View tour de force in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for tour de force, n., browse entry.

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tour de force

[ t oo r d uh fawrs , - fohrs ; French too r d uh fawrs ]

Herman Melville's Moby Dick was a tour de force.

The way the president got his bill through the Senate was a tour de force.

• a feat requiring unusual strength, skill, or ingenuity.

/ ˈtʊə də ˈfɔːs; tur də fɔrs /

• a masterly or brilliant stroke, creation, effect, or accomplishment
• A feat accomplished through great skill and ability: “The speech was a tour de force; it swept the audience off its feet.”

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Word history and origins.

Origin of tour de force 1

Example Sentences

In her aching memoir, she embarks on a tour de force examination of her childhood, marked first by her mother’s abandoning her when she was a toddler and later by the death of her beloved father.

Through the late 1960s, Capote claimed to be writing his masterpiece, his tour de force based on his swans, but several deadlines passed for it.

At 35, Hawa Hassan is already a tour de force when it comes to Somali food in America.

Understated yet opulent, measured, and intensely creepy, it’s a tour de force in balancing uncomfortable levels of tension and suspense with deep pathos.

Page’s tour de force performance in Hard Candy led, two years later, to Juno, a low-budget indie film that brought Page Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations and sudden megafame.

His family memoir, Sweet and Low, is a tour de force of reporting and memory—tender, curious, and exceptionally funny.

It is a tour de force of reporting: 13,000 words on a two-week deadline.

It's also a masterpiece of choreographed c--tery—Joffrey's final tour de force.

And, of course, she's best known for her ball-busting tour de force as Ed Helms's wife in The Hangover.

As a result, his version is a technical tour de force but a movie that never gets under your skin.

As a tour de force in the gentle art of lying, the snake-story is justly esteemed.

As a tour de force of geometrical imagination it would be difficult to parallel this hypothesis.

The physical tour de force, was one of those feats of agility in which Neb had been my instructor, ten years before.

If the Mastersingers was a little less successful as a work of art we should still have to regard it as an amazing tour de force.

The music for such incidents cannot be of the highest beauty; here we have one of the cases of a tour de force.

tour-de-force

Dictionary definition of tour-de-force

A performance or achievement that has been accomplished with great skill. "The chef's meal was a tour de force of flavors and textures."

Detailed meaning of tour-de-force

"Tour de force" is a French phrase that translates to "a feat of strength" or "a masterful accomplishment." It is used to describe a remarkable or outstanding achievement, often one that requires a high level of skill, ability, and effort. The term is often used to describe an exceptional performance or accomplishment in the arts, such as a musical performance, a play, a film, or a book. It is also used in the context of sports, to describe an extraordinary performance by an athlete or a team. In the field of science and technology, it refers to an innovative or groundbreaking achievement. In business and politics, it can refer to a particularly successful or skillful negotiation or campaign. The phrase is also used in a more general sense to describe any remarkable or outstanding achievement, regardless of the field or context. In literature and media, it is often used to describe a character's exceptional performance or accomplishment.

Example sentences of tour-de-force

1. His piano concerto was a musical tour-de-force. 2. The chef's tasting menu was a culinary tour-de-force. 3. The movie's special effects were a visual tour-de-force. 4. Her presentation was a tour-de-force of persuasive speaking. 5. The novel is considered a literary tour-de-force. 6. The athlete's performance was a physical tour-de-force.

History and etymology of tour-de-force

The noun 'tour-de-force' has its origins in the French language, where it literally translates to 'tour of strength' or 'feat of strength.' The term 'tour' means 'turn' or 'round,' and 'force' means 'strength.' It originally referred to a remarkable physical or artistic feat that demonstrated exceptional skill, strength, or ability. Over time, it found its way into English and broadened its meaning to encompass any outstanding or remarkable achievement in various fields, such as the arts, sports, or other endeavors. Therefore, when we describe something as a 'tour-de-force,' we are acknowledging that it represents an exceptional and masterful accomplishment, achieved with great skill and often leaving a lasting impression on those who witness or experience it.

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Further usage examples of tour-de-force

1. The building's architecture is an engineering tour-de-force. 2. The ballet performance was a choreographic tour-de-force. 3. The tech company's product launch was a technological tour-de-force. 4. The artist's exhibit is an artistic tour-de-force. 5. His leadership during the crisis was a managerial tour-de-force. 6. The scientist's research breakthrough was a scientific tour-de-force. 7. The fashion show was a design tour-de-force. 8. The guitarist's solo was a musical tour-de-force. 9. The lawyer's courtroom argument was a legal tour-de-force. 10. The director's film was a cinematic tour-de-force. 11. Her fashion collection was a design tour-de-force. 12. The athlete's world record was a physical tour-de-force. 13. The chef's new dish was a culinary tour-de-force. 14. The magician's performance was a magical tour-de-force. 15. His performance in the play was a tour de force that left the audience speechless. 16. She delivered a tour de force speech that left the crowd in awe. 17. He pulled off a tour de force in the game, scoring the winning goal in the last minute. 18. Her novel was a tour de force of storytelling and imagination. 19. The architect's design was a tour de force of innovation and functionality. 20. He performed a tour de force of acrobatics that left the audience amazed. 21. She gave a tour de force performance in the concert, singing and playing several instruments. 22. The scientist's research was a tour de force that revolutionized the field. 23. He pulled off a tour de force in the race, setting a new record. 24. Her sculpture was a tour de force of creativity and skill. 25. The dancer's routine was a tour de force of grace and athleticism.

Quiz categories containing tour-de-force

Multiple Choice

Opposite Words

Same/different

Spelling Bee

accomplishment,achievement,masterpiece,performance,showcase,showpiece,success,wonder

eb68db_a71ac8cbf58442fe88a8c79729eefd18.mp3

masterpiece, failure, flop, mediocrity

display,exploit,feat,magnum-opus,triumph

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Definition of tour de force noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

tour de force

• a cinematic tour de force
• It was described as a ‘literary tour de force’.

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Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

  Vocabulary      

What does la tour mean?

Definitions for la tour lɑ ˈtʊər la tour, this dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word la tour ., princeton's wordnet rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes.

La Tour, Georges de La Tour noun

French painter of religious works (1593-1652)

ChatGPT Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

"La Tour" is a French phrase that directly translates to "the tower" in English. It is often used to refer to a tall, narrow building or structure. It also represents a surname in French-speaking countries. Additionally, it's used to denote specific landmarks such as "La Tour Eiffel" (The Eiffel Tower).

Wikidata Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votes

La Tour is an unincorporated community in Johnson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 65 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a village. La Tour disincorporated on April 13, 2009 after an April 7 vote on the subject passed by the margin of 20 to 1.

Matched Categories

How to pronounce la tour.

Alex US English David US English Mark US English Daniel British Libby British Mia British Karen Australian Hayley Australian Natasha Australian Veena Indian Priya Indian Neerja Indian Zira US English Oliver British Wendy British Fred US English Tessa South African

How to say la tour in sign language?

Chaldean Numerology

The numerical value of la tour in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

Pythagorean Numerology

The numerical value of la tour in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of la tour in a Sentence

Jeff Kaufmann :

The 99-county tour, the meeting people up close and personal ... I still believe that works and that's going to speak to the success of the candidate.

Vijay Singh :

I would like to play the Olympics, but the Zika virus, you know... i feel bad, I wanted to play and finally decided against it. It's in the middle of the Tour over here and I'm trying to figure out my game.

Rafa Nadal :

It will be a very important loss for us, for the world of tennis, for the tour, for the fans, even for the rivals. that he has been part of a great rivalry between the. best players for a long time, and a great competitor, but that's life. Seems like he has not (had) a very long career because today players are playing that long.

Mark Williams :

It's an unbelievable story, 12 months ago I was thinking of chucking it. Here I am winning the 2018 World Championships ... bollock naked, where has it come from? Unbelievable 12 months. If I never win another tour or my form goes downhill I don't care. I've just done something I thought I'd never ever do.

Vanessa Valdivia :

The First Lady is a key messenger for the administration’s priorities and will continue to highlight the President’s accomplishments across the country through her travel on the Investing in America tour.

• ^  Princeton's WordNet http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=la tour
• ^  ChatGPT https://chat.openai.com
• ^  Wikidata https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=la tour

Translations for la tour

From our multilingual translation dictionary.

• la tour Spanish
• la tour French
• ला टूर Hindi
• la túra Hungarian
• la tour Italian
• la tour Dutch
• la tour Portuguese
• லா பயணம் Tamil
• la tour Turkish
• لا ٹور Urdu
• la tour Vietnamese
• 拉图尔 Chinese

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Are we missing a good definition for la tour ? Don't keep it to yourself...

Image credit, the web's largest resource for, definitions & translations, a member of the stands4 network, free, no signup required :, add to chrome, add to firefox, browse definitions.net, are you a words master, irregularly slashed and jagged as if torn, Nearby & related entries:.

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Fast French

le tour & la tour

Unraveling the Distinction: “Le Tour” vs. “La Tour” in French

There are a few words (homonyms) in French where the same word with the same spelling exists, but there is one meaning for the masculine version and a completely different meaning for the feminine version. So when speaking or listening, it is important to distinguish between the masculine and the feminine versions.

Le Tour (masculine )

Meaning and Usage: “Le tour” is a masculine noun in French, and its primary meaning refers to a “turn,” “tour,” or “spin.” This term finds its application in various contexts, including sports, games, and everyday activities. Here are some examples of its usage:

• Sports: “C’est à ton tour de jouer au tennis” (It’s your turn to play tennis).
• Cooking: “Ajoutez le sucre au mélange et mélangez bien avant de continuer le tour” (Add the sugar to the mixture and mix well before continuing the process).
• Travel: “Nous avons fait le tour du monde en un an” (We traveled around the world in a year).

Etymology: The etymology of “le tour” can be traced back to the Latin masculine noun “tornus,” meaning “lathe” or “turning.” Over time, this evolved into Old French as “torn,” and eventually, the modern form “tour” emerged. The word “tour” retained its masculine gender in French.

La Tour (feminine)

Meaning and Usage: In contrast, “la tour” is a feminine noun in French, signifying a “tower.” As an architectural element, a tower often stands tall, commanding attention and admiration. Here are some examples of its usage:

• Landmarks: “La Tour Eiffel est un emblème de Paris” (The Eiffel Tower is an emblem of Paris).
• Fairy Tales: “Il était une fois une princesse emprisonnée dans une haute tour” (Once upon a time, there was a princess imprisoned in a tall tower).
• Defensive Structures: “Le château est entouré de remparts et de plusieurs tours” (The castle is surrounded by ramparts and several towers).

Etymology: The etymology of “la tour” is linked to the Latin feminine noun “turris,” which translates to “tower” or “citadel.” As Old French evolved, “turris” became “tor,” and ultimately, in modern French, it evolved into “tour.” The word “tour” kept its feminine gender from the Latin original.

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French translation of 'tour'

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