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

But to tamp down inflation would be to risk slowing the country’s economic growth — and, with it, hiring. —Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026

Treasury yields have climbed in recent months because of rising oil prices and expectations that central banks will need to hold interest rates steady or even raise rates to tamp down resurgent inflation. —John Towfighi, CNN Money, 18 June 2026

Noun

The drug tocilizumab tamps down a molecule called IL-6 that triggers damaging inflammation in some autoimmune and other diseases. —ABC News, 3 June 2026

The point of most contention is the amount of weight one should apply to their tamp, with many luminaries in the scene saying 15 lbs is the correct number. —Pete Cottell, Wired News, 29 May 2026

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