camp
1a 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.
such tents or shelters collectively: The regiment transported its camp in trucks.
the persons so sheltered: The camp slept through the storm.
the act of camping out: Camp is far more pleasant in summer than in winter.
any temporary structure, as a tent or cabin, used on an outing or vacation.
a group of troops, workers, etc., camping and moving together.
army life.
a group of people favoring the same ideals, doctrines, etc.: Most American voters are divided into two camps, Republicans and Democrats.
any position in which ideals, doctrines, etc., are strongly entrenched: After considering the other side's argument, he changed camps.
a recreation area in the country, equipped with extensive facilities for sports.
to establish or pitch a camp: The army camped in the valley.
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.
to reside or lodge somewhere temporarily or irregularly, especially in an apartment, room, etc.: They camped in our apartment whenever they came to town.
to settle down securely and comfortably; become ensconced: The kids camped on our porch until the rain stopped.
to take up a position stubbornly: They camped in front of the president's office.
to put or station (troops) in a camp; shelter.
Digital Technology. (in a video game)
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.
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.
Origin of camp
1Words Nearby camp
Other definitions for camp (2 of 4)
something that provides irreverent or knowing amusement, as by virtue of its being theatrically stylized and extravagantly artificial, self-consciously artless, or ironically ingenuous.
a person who adopts a teasing, theatrical manner, especially for the amusement of others.
Also camp it up . to speak or behave in a coquettishly playful or extravagantly theatrical manner.
campy: camp Hollywood musicals of the 1940s.
Origin of camp
2Other definitions for Camp (3 of 4)
Walter Chaun·cey [chawn-see, chahn-], /ˈtʃɔn si, ˈtʃɑn-/, 1859–1925, U.S. football coach and author.
Other definitions for cAMP (4 of 4)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use camp in a sentence
Wherever you go, the Talon will help turn your car camping site into a true base camp.
Three Family-Friendly Adventures to Try This Fall | Outside Editors | September 17, 2020 | Outside OnlineIn backcountry areas where bruins and other animals want your food, hanging it in a tree downwind of camp will keep it out of reach and reduce nighttime animal prowlers around your tent.
This essential survival tool can save your life 10 different ways | By Tim MacWelch/Outdoor Life | September 15, 2020 | Popular-ScienceOverall, athletes had successful camps in 46 of the 82 cases, for a hit rate of 56 percent.
Why Altitude Training Helps Some but Not Others | Alex Hutchinson | September 11, 2020 | Outside OnlineThis summer, consumer financial services company Synchrony introduced Synchrony summer camps, virtual summer camp experiences for 3,700 children of employees.
The best back-to-school benefits companies are offering their employees | ehinchliffe | September 10, 2020 | FortuneAt the beginning of camp, students often reported that struggling with math was a sign you weren’t doing well.
A secret of science: Mistakes boost understanding | Rachel Kehoe | September 10, 2020 | Science News For Students
Pitchfork called him a “a rap-obsessed misfit from a summer camp who freestyles poorly” who is “ridiculous without knowing it.”
The Cult of Yung Lean: ‘I’m Building An Anarchistic Society From the Ground Up’ | Marlow Stern | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWithin a concentration camp, would someone make a joke about the number, the tattooed number?
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination | Mindy Farabee | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFor now, Sabrine continues her daily routine of visits to the protest camp, to political leaders and taking care of the twins.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda | Ruth Michaelson | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn the summer of 2014, they both were sentenced to 4-1/2 years in a labor camp.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015 | Movements.Org | December 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe prison camp island nation known as Cuba erupted in celebration.
"A camp-fire would hardly flash and die out like that, Sarge," he answered thoughtfully.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. SinclairIn the most perfect stillness, we arrived within two hundred paces of the enemy's camp.
The camp grew still, except for the rough and ready cook pottering about the fire, boiling buffalo-meat and mixing biscuit-dough.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. SinclairMeanwhile, he had been selected as aide-de-camp by General d'Ure de Molans.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonThus the whole State became one vast armed camp, nearly forty thousand men on a side, arrayed against each other.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. Dunn
British Dictionary definitions for camp (1 of 3)
/ (kæmp) /
a place where tents, cabins, or other temporary structures are erected for the use of military troops, for training soldiers, etc
the military life
tents, cabins, etc, used as temporary lodgings by a group of travellers, holiday-makers, Scouts, etc
the group of people living in such lodgings
Southern African a field or paddock fenced off as pasture
a group supporting a given doctrine or theory: the socialist camp
Australian a place where sheep or cattle gather to rest
(modifier) suitable for use in temporary quarters, on holiday, etc, esp by being portable and easy to set up: a camp bed; a camp chair
(intr often foll by down) to establish or set up a camp
(intr often foll by out) to live temporarily in or as if in a tent
(tr) to put in a camp
Origin of camp
1Derived forms of camp
- camping, noun
British Dictionary definitions for camp (2 of 3)
/ (kæmp) informal /
effeminate; affected in mannerisms, dress, etc
homosexual
consciously artificial, exaggerated, vulgar, or mannered; self-parodying, esp when in dubious taste
(tr) to perform or invest with a camp quality
camp it up
to seek to focus attention on oneself by making an ostentatious display, overacting, etc
to flaunt one's homosexuality
a camp quality, style, etc
Origin of camp
2British Dictionary definitions for Camp (3 of 3)
/ (kæmp) /
Walter (Chauncey). 1859–1925, US sportsman and administrator; he introduced new rules to American football, which distinguished it from rugby.
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with camp
In addition to the idioms beginning with camp
- camp follower
- camp it up
- camp out
also see:
- break camp
- foot in both camps
- happy camper
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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