What is a Tour Guide? Definition and Examples

Meaning 1：tour guide (Tour guide)

Tour guide 🔊

/tʊr ɡaɪd/

A person whose job is to show places of interest and explain their history or culture to tourists.

tour guide 🔊

➕

/tʊr ɡaɪd/

A person who leads tours and provides information about attractions, history, and culture to visitors.

📁 Category：Transportation & Travel 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Compound word: 'tour' (journey) + 'guide' (leader).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a 'tour' that needs a 'guide' to show the way.

📖 Example

Our tour guide in the museum made the ancient statues come alive with his fascinating stories. 🔊 Our tour guide in the museum made the ancient statues come alive with his fascinating stories.

🔗 Collocations

professional tour guide – a trained and certified guide who leads tours for a living

train as a tour guide – to undergo instruction to become a guide for tourists

tour guide services – the activity or business of providing guided tours

🔄 Synonyms

guide (n.) – a person who shows the way or provides information, especially to tourists

escort (n.) – a person who accompanies others to provide protection or guidance

cicerone (n.) – a guide who explains antiquities and historical sites, often used in formal contexts

🌱 Derivatives

tour guiding (n.) – the profession or activity of being a tour guide

tour-guided (adj.) – accompanied or led by a tour guide

📖 Cultural Story

The profession of tour guide grew with organized travel in the 19th century, especially after Thomas Cook launched guided tours in Europe.