camp

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈkamp 

often attributive

1

a

: a place usually away from urban areas where tents or simple buildings (such as cabins) are erected for shelter or for temporary residence (as for laborers, prisoners, or vacationers)

migrant labor camp

b

: a group of tents, cabins, or huts

fishing camps along the river

c

: a settlement newly sprung up in a lumbering or mining region

d

: a place usually in the country for recreation or instruction often during the summer

goes to camp every July

also : a program offering access to recreational or educational facilities for a limited period of time

computer camp

a resort offering boating and hiking camps

e

: a preseason training session for athletes

the star pitcher injured in camp this spring

2

a

: a body of persons encamped

b(1)

: a group of persons

especially : a group engaged in promoting or defending a theory, doctrine, position, or person

(2)

: an ideological position

3

: military service or life

camp

2 of 5

verb (1)

camped; camping; camps

intransitive verb

1

: to make camp or occupy a camp

2

: to live temporarily in a camp or outdoors

—often used with out

3

: to take up one's quarters : lodge

4

: to take up one's position : settle down

—often used with out

camp out in the library for the afternoon

transitive verb

: to put into a camp

also : accommodate

camp

3 of 5

noun (2)

1

a

: something so outrageously artificial, affected, inappropriate, or out-of-date as to be considered amusing

This version of the play is camp: outrageous in concept and wild in its execution with double entendres flying every which way.

b

: a style or mode of personal or creative expression that is absurdly exaggerated and often fuses elements of high and popular culture

a movie that celebrates camp

2

: exaggerated effeminate mannerisms (as of speech or gesture)

camp

4 of 5

adjective

: of, relating to, being, or displaying camp : campy

camp send-ups of the songs of the fifties and sixties

—John Elsom

camp

5 of 5

verb (2)

camped; camping; camps

intransitive verb

: to engage in camp : exhibit the qualities of camp

he … was camping, hands on hips, with a quick eye to notice every man who passed by

—R. M. McAlmon

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• bivouac
• campground
• campsite
• encampment
• hutment

Verb (1)

• accommodate
• bestow
• billet
• bivouac
• board
• bunk
• chamber
• domicile
• encamp
• harbor
• house
• lodge
• put up
• quarter
• roof
• room
• shelter
• take in

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

Middle French, probably from Middle French dialect (Picard) or Old Occitan, from Latin campus plain, field

Noun (2), Adjective, and Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

1543, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1909, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1909, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1910, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing camp

• camp follower
• aide-de-camp
• camp shirt
• boot camp
• set up camp
• transit camp
• prison camp
• labor camp
• death camp
• camp meeting
• work camp
• camp it up
• day camp
• camp bed
• concentration camp
• break camp

See More

• camp follower
• aide-de-camp
• camp shirt
• boot camp
• set up camp
• transit camp
• prison camp
• labor camp
• death camp
• camp meeting
• work camp
• camp it up
• day camp
• camp bed
• concentration camp
• break camp

See More

Kids Definition

camp

1 of 2 noun

ˈkamp 

1

a

: a place usually away from cities where tents or buildings are erected for shelter or for living in temporarily

b

: a group of tents, cabins, or huts

c

: a tent or cabin to be lived in temporarily (as during vacation)

d

: a place usually in the country for recreation or instruction often during the summer

summer camp

also : a program offering access to recreational or educational facilities for a limited period of time

a resort offering boating and hiking camps

computer camp

2

: a body of persons in a camp

camp

2 of 2 verb

1

: to make or occupy a camp

2

: to live in a camp or outdoors

camp out overnight

Medical Definition

cAMP

abbreviation

cyclic AMP

Biographical Definition

Camp

biographical name

ˈkamp 

Walter Chauncey 1859–1925 American football coach