camp

¹

[ kamp ]

noun

1. a place where an army or other group of persons or an individual is lodged in a tent or tents or other temporary means of shelter.
2. such tents or shelters collectively:

   The regiment transported its camp in trucks.

3. the persons so sheltered:

   The camp slept through the storm.

4. the act of camping out:

   Camp is far more pleasant in summer than in winter.

5. any temporary structure, as a tent or cabin, used on an outing or vacation.
6. a group of troops, workers, etc., camping and moving together.
7. army life.
8. a group of people favoring the same ideals, doctrines, etc.:

   Most American voters are divided into two camps, Republicans and Democrats.

9. any position in which ideals, doctrines, etc., are strongly entrenched:

   After considering the other side's argument, he changed camps.

10. a recreation area in the country, equipped with extensive facilities for sports.
11. day camp.
12. summer camp.

verb (used without object)

1. to establish or pitch a camp:

   The army camped in the valley.

2. to live temporarily in or as if in a camp or outdoors, usually for recreation (often followed by out ):

   They camped by the stream for a week.

3. to reside or lodge somewhere temporarily or irregularly, especially in an apartment, room, etc.:

   They camped in our apartment whenever they came to town.

4. to settle down securely and comfortably; become ensconced:

   The kids camped on our porch until the rain stopped.

5. to take up a position stubbornly:

   They camped in front of the president's office.

verb (used with object)

1. to put or station (troops) in a camp; shelter.
2. Digital Technology. (in a video game)
   1. to hunt or search for (an enemy or item) by maintaining a position where it is known to spawn:

      There were a couple of us camping a notorious monster for rare dropped items.

   2. to hide or take cover in (a relatively safe play area), often as part of an ambush strategy for attacking other characters:

      Camp a choke point like the bridge, or just hide in the bushes with a sniper rifle and you’ll be the last man standing.

camp

²

[ kamp ]

noun

1. something that provides irreverent or knowing amusement, as by virtue of its being theatrically stylized and extravagantly artificial, self-consciously artless, or ironically ingenuous.
2. a person who adopts a teasing, theatrical manner, especially for the amusement of others.

verb (used without object)

1. Also camp it up. to speak or behave in a coquettishly playful or extravagantly theatrical manner.

adjective

1. campy:

   camp Hollywood musicals of the 1940s.

Camp

³

[ kamp ]

noun

1. Walter Chaun·cey [chawn, -see, chahn, -], 1859–1925, U.S. football coach and author.

cAMP

⁴

[ kamp ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. cyclic AMP.

camp

¹

/ kæmp /

adjective

1. effeminate; affected in mannerisms, dress, etc
2. homosexual
3. consciously artificial, exaggerated, vulgar, or mannered; self-parodying, esp when in dubious taste

verb

1. tr to perform or invest with a camp quality
2. camp it up
   1. to seek to focus attention on oneself by making an ostentatious display, overacting, etc
   2. to flaunt one's homosexuality

noun

1. a camp quality, style, etc

camp

²

/ kæmp /

noun

1. a place where tents, cabins, or other temporary structures are erected for the use of military troops, for training soldiers, etc
2. the military life
3. tents, cabins, etc, used as temporary lodgings by a group of travellers, holiday-makers, Scouts, etc
4. the group of people living in such lodgings
5. a field or paddock fenced off as pasture
6. a group supporting a given doctrine or theory

   the socialist camp

7. a place where sheep or cattle gather to rest
8. modifier suitable for use in temporary quarters, on holiday, etc, esp by being portable and easy to set up

   a camp chair

   a camp bed

verb

1. introften foll bydown to establish or set up a camp
2. introften foll byout to live temporarily in or as if in a tent
3. tr to put in a camp

Camp

³

/ kæmp /

noun

1. CampWalter (Chauncey)18591925MUSSPORT AND GAMES: sportsmanSPORT AND GAMES: sports administrator Walter ( Chauncey ). 1859–1925, US sportsman and administrator; he introduced new rules to American football, which distinguished it from rugby.

Derived Forms

• ˈcamping, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of camp¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Middle French can, camp, originally dialect (Normandy, Picardy) or from Old Provençal, from Italian campo, from Latin campus “field, battlefield”; compare Old English campe, compe “battle, battlefield” (cognate with German Kampf “struggle”), from Germanic, from Latin

Origin of camp²

First recorded in 1865–70 as campish; spelling camp dates to 1905–10; of uncertain origin; perhaps from French se camper “to pose, portray oneself”; perhaps dialectal camp “impetuous, uncouth person,” hence, “slightly objectionable, effeminate, gay”; in some senses probably special use of camp ¹ (in the sense “army camp”), where “camp followers,” a euphemism for prostitutes, were notorious for licentiousness

Word History and Origins

Origin of camp¹

C20: of uncertain origin

Origin of camp²

C16: from Old French, ultimately from Latin campus field

Idioms and Phrases

• break camp
• foot in both camps
• happy camper

Example Sentences

In a telling moment of high camp, he dubbed their touring entourage as the “Benevolent Army of El Primo,” with Cher playing the role of Prima Donna to Sonny’s all-encompassing, self-created moniker His Supremeness.

From Salon

And while one scene does have him meeting a handful of Jews he’s helping, the only camp victim ever shown from arrest to imprisonment to suffering to death is you-know-who.

From Los Angeles Times

Infected adults spread the virus to their families and other contacts, especially in crowded camps such as Rusayo.

From Science Magazine

Police found him shot to death in a homeless camp in 2021 and recently arrested one suspected gunman.

From Los Angeles Times

The town is located on the former site of Tr’ochëk, a hunting and fishing camp where the Klondike and Yukon rivers meet.

From BBC

Related Words

• encampment
• tent