SINCE 1828
tamp
verb
\ ˈtamp
\
\
tamped;
tamping;
tamps
Definition of tamp
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: to drive in or down by a succession of light or medium blows
tamp wet concrete
tamp
nounDefinition of tamp (Entry 2 of 2)
: a tool for tamping
Keep scrolling for more
Examples of tamp in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The Trump administration’s trade team, led by Mr. Lighthizer, has previously used broad, brief agreements to tamp down trade disputes with the European Union and Japan, while keeping tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from both areas. — Bob Davis, WSJ, "Chinese, U.S. Trade Negotiators Inch Toward a Broad Agreement," 15 Feb. 2019 Driving the glut are cheese makers who ramped up production before trade tensions abroad tamped down demand for many of their products. — Recode Staff, Recode, "Recode Daily: The NAACP’s weeklong boycott of Facebook and Instagram begins today," 18 Dec. 2018 Federal government figures continue to show otherwise, however, as market forces inexorably tamp down coal demand. — Matthew Daly, The Seattle Times, "US coal consumption drops to lowest level since 1979," 5 Dec. 2018 Then use a solution that's half dish soap, half warm water to sponge and tamp the spot. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "Only True Sticklers for Cleanliness Will Be Able to Pass This Stain Removal Quiz," 15 Nov. 2018 In recent years, Beijing has begun trying to tamp down the borrowing, worrying that the debts of local governments—which are estimated to amount to 46% of the economy—are a long-term danger, especially as overall economic growth slows. — Chao Deng, WSJ, "China Rebukes Local Officials Over Debt Pile," 17 Sep. 2018 The company on Friday also sought to tamp down fears of a significant decline in the world’s largest car market, China. — Mike Colias, WSJ, "GM Sees Boost to Profit From Job Cuts," 11 Jan. 2019 Almost from the moment the attack took place, Venezuela's opposition has warned that Maduro would use the incident to intensify a crackdown on his opponents as the government seeks to tamp down discontent over the country's imploding economy. — Christine Armario, Fox News, "Foe accused by Maduro says Venezuela military is fracturing," 15 Aug. 2018 Almost from the moment the attack took place, Venezuela’s opposition has warned that Maduro would use the incident to intensify a crackdown on his opponents as the government seeks to tamp down discontent over the country’s imploding economy. — Christine Armario, The Seattle Times, "Foe accused by Maduro says Venezuela military is fracturing," 14 Aug. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
An economic slowdown could of course tamp down demand for gasoline, drying up refiners’ profits. — Rebecca Elliott, WSJ, "Gasoline Makers Are Reaping Big Profits," 7 Aug. 2018 These cellular cyborgs could one day step in when your body falls short in its attempts to hunt cancer cells, tamp down overactive immune responses or adjust the gut microbiome. — Eric Smalley, Discover Magazine, "Cellular Cyborgs: How Programmable DNA Strands Might Control Healing," 25 Sep. 2018 Back fill in the hole with the soil, tamp down the soil gently around the plant, and feed with some balanced fertilizer. — Arricca Sansone, Country Living, "How to Grow Hydrangeas," 1 Aug. 2018 High prices generate a short burst of profits but can undermine economic growth and tamp down demand. — Rebecca Elliott And Christopher M. Matthews, WSJ, "U.S. Shale Companies Motor Ahead Despite OPEC," 24 June 2018 Congress passed the REAL ID law in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to increase security and tamp down fraud. — Allison Kite, kansascity, "Missouri isn’t ready for the switch to REAL ID. That could affect your travel plans," 15 June 2018 The period also included two La Niñas (late 2016, and late 2017 to early 2018), which generally have the opposite effect and tamp down precipitation and temperatures locally. — Robert Krier, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Cool May breaks San Diego's long warm spell," 1 June 2018 The cells being tested in the trial are intended to both promote anti-inflammatory reactions and tamp down the microglia, ideally halting the ongoing loss of brain volume soon after the injury occurs. — Andrew Joseph, STAT, "In a bid to promote stem cell therapies, health officials open a new door for promising contenders," 13 Apr. 2018 The situation has become so alarming that two years ago the National Congress of American Indians—the country’s oldest and largest organization of tribal governments—passed a resolution designed to tamp down smoking rates and save lives. — Dina Fine Maron, Scientific American, "The Fight to Keep Tobacco Sacred," 29 Mar. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tamp.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More about tamp
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
Is It 'Damp Down' or 'Tamp Down'?
Is It 'Damp Down' or 'Tamp Down'?
English: always throwing a wet blanket on your assumptions
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for tamp
tamp
verb
English Language Learners Definition of tamp
: to press (something) down by hitting it lightly
See the full definition for tamp in the English Language Learners Dictionary
tamp
verb
\ ˈtamp
\
\
tamped;
tamping
Kids Definition of tamp
: to press down or in by hitting lightly
She tamped down the soil.
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on tamp
What made you want to look up tamp? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Original Meanings Quiz
-
- Which of the following is the earliest known sense of the word awe?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Original Meanings Quiz
A quiz for the pedantic and those annoyed by them!
Take the quiz -
A Green Quiz
How many questions can you answer about the word "green"?
Take the quiz -
Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz -
Syn City
Build a city of skyscrapers—one synonym at a time.
Play the game
Share tamp
Resources for tamp