grand tour

noun

1. an extended tour of Europe, formerly regarded as a necessary part of the education of young British gentlemen.
2. an extended tour of any region or country.
3. a comprehensive guided tour or inspection, as of a building, exhibit, or military installation.

grand tour

noun

1. (formerly) an extended tour through the major cities of Europe, esp one undertaken by a rich or aristocratic Englishman to complete his education
2. informal.
   an extended sightseeing trip, tour of inspection, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of grand tour¹

First recorded in 1660–70

Idioms and Phrases

A comprehensive tour, survey, or inspection. For example, They took me on a grand tour of their new house , or The new chairman will want to make a grand tour of all the branches . Starting in the late 1600s this term was used for a tour of the major European cities, considered essential to a well-bred man's education. In the mid-1800s it was extended to more general use.

Example Sentences

He also made the podium at the Tour de France and Spanish Vuelta, but hasn’t finished any grand tour since 2022.

From Seattle Times

In 1910 he made his own grand tour, crusading for the woman’s vote.

From Los Angeles Times

When the Clipper guard’s grand tour continued in July in Greece, the trip was as much about his vocation as vacation.

From Los Angeles Times

Building off the success of its Hope spacecraft, which is still circling and studying Mars, the United Arab Emirates announced on Monday plans for an ambitious follow-up mission: a grand tour of the asteroid belt.

From New York Times

Irishman Ben Healy won the eighth stage of the Giro d'Italia in emphatic fashion to seal the first grand tour stage win of his career.

From BBC