stamp

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verb \ ˈstamp ; senses vt 2a & vi 2 are also ˈstämp or ˈstȯmp \

Definition of stamp

transitive verb

1 :to pound or crush with a pestle or a heavy instrument

2 a (1) :to strike or beat forcibly with the bottom of the foot

(2) :to bring down (the foot) forcibly

b :to extinguish or destroy by or as if by stamping with the foot —usually used with out

stamp out cancer

3 a :impress, imprint

stamp "paid" on the bill

b :to attach a stamp to

4 :to cut out, bend, or form with a stamp or die

5 a :to provide with a distinctive character

stamped with a dreary, institutionalized look
—Bernard Taper

b :characterize

stamped as honest women
—W. M. Thackeray

intransitive verb

1 :pound 1

2 :to strike the foot forcibly or noisily downward

See stamp defined for English-language learners

See stamp defined for kids

Examples of stamp in a Sentence

He stamped his foot in anger.
He stamped out of the room.
She stamped the bill “paid.”

Recent Examples of stamp from the Web

Farmstand customers were encouraged to get their passports signed or stamped, then send them to the bureau's offices in Countryside to be entered into a drawing.

— mike nolan, Daily Southtown, "Cook County 'Farm Crawl' produces good harvest," 25 Aug. 2017
Charles II largely stamped out the trend during the Reformation, but the Puritans continued the practice in the New World.

— ben huberman, Longreads, "The Other National Pastime: Unusual Baby Names," 4 Aug. 2017
The swift public denunciations came as departments are under intense pressure to stamp out brutality and excessive force that can erode the relationship between officers and the people they police - and cost police chiefs their jobs.

— chicagotribune.com, "Police chiefs across the U.S. blast Trump for endorsing 'police brutality'," 30 July 2017
While Puccini was stamping herself as a future star, Hannah Hunt and her Tall Grass teammates were busy ending their local careers in style.

— matt le cren, Naperville Sun, "Alexa Puccini warms up for prep season, Hannah Hunt goes out in style," 29 July 2017
The Marine Corps has stalled in its attempts stamp out sexism within its ranks.

— kate germano, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Senior Marine Corps leaders still failing in response to nude photos scandal," 25 July 2017
In trying to stamp out terrorism along its north-west frontier, its army has demolished whole villages.

— The Economist, "Reconciliation is not impossible, but it will be a long, slow process," 22 July 2017
The takeover marks an end for what became R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, which stamped its home state of North Carolina as a center during a bygone era of smoking’s popularity through its Winston and Salem brands.

— emery p. dalesio, The Seattle Times, "Shareholders weigh British American, Reynolds tobacco merger," 19 July 2017
The takeover marks an end for what became R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, which stamped its home state of North Carolina as a center during a bygone era of smoking's popularity through its Winston and Salem brands.

— emery p. dalesio, chicagotribune.com, "Shareholders weigh British American, Reynolds tobacco merger," 19 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stamp.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of stamp

Middle English; akin to Old High German stampfōn to stamp and perhaps to Greek stembein to shake up

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

stamp Synonyms

Synonyms

barge, clomp, clump, flog [British], flounder, galumph, lump, plod, pound, scuff, scuffle, shamble, shuffle, slog, slough, lumber, stomp, stumble, stump, tramp, tromp, trudge

Antonyms

breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz, whisk

Related Words

drag, flop, haul; blunder, careen, dodder, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter, waddle, weave, wobble (also wabble)

Near Antonyms

drift, float, hang, hover, poise, waft

stamp

noun

Definition of stamp

1 :a device or instrument for stamping

2 :the impression or mark made by stamping or imprinting

3 a :a distinctive character, indication, or mark

b :a lasting imprint

4 :the act of stamping

5 :a stamped or printed paper affixed in evidence that a tax has been paid; also :postage stamp

—

stampless

adjective

See stamp defined for English-language learners

Examples of stamp in a Sentence

There was a stamp on the letter showing the date when it was received.
a stamp left in the mud by some prehistoric beast

Recent Examples of stamp from the Web

Under federal law, eligible needy families are supposed to receive food stamps within 30 days of filing an application.

— ann e. marimow, Washington Post, "Widespread problems in District-run food stamp program alleged in new lawsuit," 28 Aug. 2017
He and intern Sarah Hinman led the Hammerpress team in creating a print, a postcard and — something new to the studio — a sheet of stamps.

— stacy downs, kansascity, "Hammerpress takes the total eclipse to heart with commemorative designs," 3 Aug. 2017
Critics believe PiS simply wants to stuff them with judges who will rubber-stamp its policies.

— The Economist, "Poland’s government is putting the courts under its control," 22 July 2017
Each child received a stamp of a flower or paw print on their hand before heading down the paved path lined with yellow coneflower and other colorful buds in bloom.

— diane moca, Naperville Sun, "StoryWalk lets children read book while soaking up nature," 22 July 2017
As a junior cornerback, Ben put his stamp last year on the Cooney legacy.

— blake baumgartner, Naperville Sun, "Brothers Ben and Jack continue the Cooney legacy for Benet in football," 18 July 2017
Almost every Alabama county saw a drop in food stamp participation from 2016 to 2017, thanks in part to new work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents.

— AL.com, "12 Alabama counties where food stamp rolls are shrinking the most," 17 July 2017
There's also Beirut the Mad Bomber, Fortune Cookie and the food-stamp flaunting, fur-coat clad Welfare Queen.

— tamara ikenberg, Alaska Dispatch News, "Hit me with your best shot: Former Chugiak High cheerleader stars in ‘GLOW’ on Netflix," 8 July 2017
As the food-stamp program expanded nationally, there was an explosion of EBT cards’ showing up in drug arrests.

— sam adolphsen, National Review, "Has Medicaid Made the Opioid Epidemic Worse?," 5 July 2017

First Known Use of stamp

15th century

stamp Synonyms

Synonyms

impress, impression, imprint, print

Related Words

dent, hollow, indent, indentation, indenture; mark, sign

STAMP Defined for English Language Learners

stamp

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verb

Definition of stamp for English Language Learners

: to bring (your foot) down heavily and noisily
: to walk heavily and noisily
: to use a special device (called a stamp) to put a design, word, etc., on something : to create a mark by pressing a special tool against a surface

stamp

noun

Definition of stamp for English Language Learners

: a small piece of paper that you buy and then stick to an envelope or package to pay the cost of mailing it
: a small piece of paper that is attached to something and that shows that a tax or fee has been paid
: a device or tool that is used to mark something (such as a piece of paper) with a design, pattern, word, etc., by being pushed against a surface : a device or tool used for stamping something

STAMP Defined for Kids

stamp

play

verb \ ˈstamp \

Definition of stamp for Students

stamped; stamping

1 :to bring the foot down hard and with noise

They all laughed and stamped and clapped their hands …
—J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

2 :to put an end to by or as if by hitting with the bottom of the foot

We stamped out the fire.

The mayor promised to stamp out crime.

3 :to mark or cut out with a tool or device having a design

The bill was stamped paid.

The mint stamps coins.

4 :to attach a postage stamp to

5 :characterize 1

Their acts stamped them as cowards.

stamp

noun

Definition of stamp for Students

1 :a small piece of paper or a mark attached to something to show that a tax or fee has been paid

a postage stamp

2 :a device or instrument for marking with a design

3 :the mark made by stamping

4 :a sign of a special quality

the stamp of genius

She gave the idea her stamp of approval.

5 :the act of bringing the foot down hard

Law Dictionary

stamp

noun

legal Definition of stamp

:an official mark or seal set on something (as a deed) chargeable with a government or state duty or tax or on papers requiring execution under certain conditions to signify that the duty or tax has been paid or the condition fulfilled; especially :revenue stamp