vamp

¹

[ vamp ]

noun

1. the portion of a shoe or boot upper that covers the instep and toes.
2. something patched up or pieced together.
3. Jazz. an accompaniment, usually improvised, consisting of a succession of simple chords.

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with a vamp, especially to repair (a shoe or boot) with a new vamp.
2. to patch up; repair.
3. to give (something) a new appearance by adding a patch or piece.
4. to concoct or invent (often followed by up ):

   He vamped up a few ugly rumors to discredit his enemies.

5. Jazz. to improvise (an accompaniment or the like).

verb (used without object)

1. Jazz. to improvise an accompaniment, tune, etc.

vamp

²

[ vamp ]

noun

1. a seductive woman who uses her sensuality to exploit men.

verb (used with object)

1. to use feminine charms upon; seduce.

verb (used without object)

1. to act as a vamp.

vamp

¹

/ væmp /

noun

1. something patched up to make it look new
2. the reworking of a theme, story, etc
3. an improvised accompaniment, consisting largely of chords
4. the front part of the upper of a shoe

verb

1. troften foll byup to give a vamp to; make a renovation of
2. to improvise (an accompaniment) to (a tune)

vamp

²

/ væmp /

noun

1. a seductive woman who exploits men by use of her sexual charms

verb

1. to exploit (a man) in the fashion of a vamp

Derived Forms

• ˈvamper, noun
• ˈvamper, noun
• ˈvampish, adjective

Other Words From

• vamper noun
• vampish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vamp¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English va(u)mpe, wamp(e), from Anglo-French; Middle French avant-pie, equivalent to avant- “fore-” + pie “foot” ( French pied); avaunt, -ped

Origin of vamp²

First recorded in 1905–10; short for vampire

Word History and Origins

Origin of vamp¹

C13: from Old French avantpié the front part of a shoe (hence, something patched), from avant- fore- + pié foot, from Latin pēs

Origin of vamp²

C20: short for vampire

Example Sentences

When a fan on the floor needed medical help at one point, Mars had his band vamp for a few minutes as security guards found the guy and carried him out.

From Los Angeles Times

There was that special, spring-loaded tension of the media apparatus readying to deliver big news after days of vamping.

From New York Times

Instead of the typical hypersexualized vamp, Björk offered girls like me a different template, and the more bizarre she revealed herself to be, the more our loyalty to her deepened.

From Los Angeles Times

Led by the bass player Rio Kai, the quartet lovingly dismantles Tchaikovsky’s music and brings in modern energy, switching effortlessly between chilled vamps and off-kilter meters.

From New York Times

At this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, she vamped her way through a transfixing medley from her latest album, “Scarlet,” including the brash, rough-edged diss track “Demons.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• enchantress
• seductress
• temptress