stamp

[ stamp ]

verb (used with object)

1. to strike or beat with a forcible, downward thrust of the foot.
2. to bring (the foot) down forcibly or smartly on the ground, floor, etc.
3. to extinguish, crush, etc., by striking with a forcible downward thrust of the foot (followed by out ):

   to stamp out a fire.

4. to suppress or quell (a rebellion, uprising, etc.) quickly through the use of overwhelming force (usually followed by out ).

   Synonyms: quash, eliminate

5. to crush or pound with or as with a pestle.
6. to impress with a particular mark or device, as to indicate genuineness, approval, or ownership:

   to stamp a document with a seal.

7. to mark or impress with a design, word, mark, etc.:

   Age stamped his face with lines.

8. to impress (a design, word, mark, etc.) on:

   to stamp one's initials on a document.

9. to affix a postage stamp to (a letter, envelope, etc.).
10. to characterize, distinguish, or reveal:

    His ingenuity with words stamped him as a potential poet.

verb (used without object)

1. to bring the foot down forcibly or smartly, as in crushing something, expressing rage, etc.
2. to walk with forcible or heavy, resounding steps:

   He stamped out of the room in anger.

noun

1. a postage stamp.
2. an act or instance of stamping.
3. a die or block for impressing or imprinting.
4. a design or legend made with such a die or block.
5. an official mark indicating genuineness, validity, etc., or payment of a duty or charge.
6. a peculiar or distinctive impression or mark:

   a great man who left his stamp on legal procedure.

7. character, kind, or type:

   a woman of serious stamp.

8. an official seal or device appearing on a business or legal document to show that a tax has been paid.
9. Also called local, such a device, often similar to a postage stamp issued by a private organization to show that the charges for mail carrying have been paid.
10. trading stamp.
11. food stamp.
12. an instrument for stamping, crushing, or pounding.
13. a heavy piece of iron or the like, as in a stamp mill, for crushing ore or other material.

stamp

/ stæmp /

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by on to bring (the foot) down heavily (on the ground, etc)
2. intr to walk with heavy or noisy footsteps
3. intrfoll byon to repress, extinguish, or eradicate

   he stamped on any criticism

4. tr to impress or mark (a particular device or sign) on (something)
5. to mark (something) with an official impress, seal, or device

   to stamp a passport

6. tr to fix or impress permanently

   the date was stamped on her memory

7. tr to affix a postage stamp to
8. tr to distinguish or reveal

   that behaviour stamps him as a cheat

9. to pound or crush (ores, etc)

noun

1. the act or an instance of stamping
2. 1. See postage stamp
   2. a mark applied to postage stamps for cancellation purposes
3. a similar piece of gummed paper used for commercial or trading purposes
4. a block, die, etc, used for imprinting a design or device
5. a design, device, or mark that has been stamped
6. a characteristic feature or trait; hallmark

   the story had the stamp of authenticity

7. a piece of gummed paper or other mark applied to official documents to indicate payment of a fee, validity, ownership, etc
8. informal.
   a national insurance contribution, formerly recorded by means of a stamp on an official card
9. type or class

   we want to employ men of his stamp

10. an instrument or machine for crushing or pounding ores, etc, or the pestle in such a device

Derived Forms

• ˈstamper, noun

Other Words From

• stampa·ble adjective
• stampless adjective
• mis·stamp verb (used with object)
• non·stampa·ble adjective
• pre·stamp noun verb (used with object)
• re·stamp verb
• super·stamp noun verb (used with object)
• under·stamp noun
• under·stamp verb (used with object)
• un·stamped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stamp¹

1150–1200; (v.) early Middle English stampen to pound, crush, probably continuing Old English *stampian (cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German stampen, Old High German stampfōn, Old Norse stappa ); sense development apparently influenced by Old French estamper to stamp < Germanic; (noun) late Middle English: instrument for stamping an impression; partly derivative of the v., partly < Old French estampe, derivative of estamper

Word History and Origins

Origin of stamp¹

Old English stampe ; related to Old High German stampfōn to stamp, Old Norse stappa

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with stamp , also see rubber stamp .

Synonym Study

See abolish.

Example Sentences

“Things are very different now. Things evolved during the period of time that I was there where the police commissioners, for all intents and purposes, provided a rubber stamp,” he said in the deposition.

From Los Angeles Times

Carsley said he would put "his own stamp" on the England squad during his time as interim boss and "freshen it up" with each get-together.

From BBC

"I'm looking forward to McCullum having his stamp on this side because he has a way of getting the best out of players," Cook told TNT Sports.

From BBC

"Above all, she will continue to be a leader our children will look up to for generations to come as she puts her stamp on America’s future."

From Salon

"It will be of interest to two different kinds of people: Titanic specialists, of course, but also stamp collectors who like postmarks. This one, dated 'Cork 3.45pm April 11 1912' is exceptionally rare."

From BBC

Related Words

• emblem
• print
• signature
• sticker