tamp

1 of 2

verb

ˈtamp 

tamped; tamping; tamps

transitive verb

1

: to drive in or down by a succession of light or medium blows

tamp wet concrete

2

: to put a check on : reduce, lessen

tamp down rumors

tamp

2 of 2

noun

plural tamps

: a tool for tamping : tamper entry 2

Fill the form half full with fresh, undisturbed snow, firmly packing it down using the cutout can bottom as a tamp; tamp around the inside edges as you go.

—James Boone

Examples of tamp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Arch had to tamp down on those expectations. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Dec. 2025

As far back as the 1980s, the federal government – then led by Ronald Reagan – took steps to tamp down barrier island building and protect taxpayers from footing the bill after disasters. —Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025

Noun

The robot uses a depth camera to map obstacles and adjust its path in real time, and its AI system analyzes soil pH and humidity before initiating a three-step dig-place-tamp planting sequence. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 Nov. 2025

But Sarah remains resolute, Bert tamps down his desire to make a quick buck — for a while, at least — and the situation starts to draw national attention, thanks to the involvement of a white civil rights attorney and a Black reporter from up north. —Joe Leydon, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably back-formation from obsolete tampion, tampin plug, from Middle English, from Middle French tapon, tampon, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German zapho tap — more at tap entry 3

First Known Use

Verb

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1920, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tamp

• amp
• champ
• clamp
• cramp
• damp
• gamp
• lamp
• ramp
• samp
• scamp
• stamp
• tramp

Kids Definition

tamp

verb

ˈtamp

1

: to drive in or down by a series of blows

2

: to put a check on : lessen

tamp down rumors

tamper noun