camp

¹ American  

[kamp] / kæmp /

noun

1. a place where an army or other group of persons or an individual is lodged in a tent or tents or other temporary means of shelter.

2. such tents or shelters collectively.

   The regiment transported its camp in trucks.

3. the persons so sheltered.

   The camp slept through the storm.

4. the act of camping out.

   Camp is far more pleasant in summer than in winter.

5. any temporary structure, as a tent or cabin, used on an outing or vacation.

6. a group of troops, workers, etc., camping and moving together.

7. army life.

8. a group of people favoring the same ideals, doctrines, etc..

   Most American voters are divided into two camps, Republicans and Democrats.

9. any position in which ideals, doctrines, etc., are strongly entrenched.

   After considering the other side's argument, he changed camps.

10. a recreation area in the country, equipped with extensive facilities for sports.

11. day camp.

12. summer camp.

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verb (used without object)

1. to establish or pitch a camp.

   The army camped in the valley.

2. to live temporarily in or as if in a camp or outdoors, usually for recreation (often followed byout ).

   They camped by the stream for a week.

3. to reside or lodge somewhere temporarily or irregularly, especially in an apartment, room, etc..

   They camped in our apartment whenever they came to town.

4. to settle down securely and comfortably; become ensconced.

   The kids camped on our porch until the rain stopped.

5. to take up a position stubbornly.

   They camped in front of the president's office.

verb (used with object)

1. to put or station (troops) in a camp; shelter.

2. Digital Technology. (in a video game)

   1. to hunt or search for (an enemy or item) by maintaining a position where it is known to spawn.

      There were a couple of us camping a notorious monster for rare dropped items.

   2. to hide or take cover in (a relatively safe play area), often as part of an ambush strategy for attacking other characters.

      Camp a choke point like the bridge, or just hide in the bushes with a sniper rifle and you’ll be the last man standing.

camp ² American  

[kamp] / kæmp /

noun

1. something that provides irreverent or knowing amusement, as by virtue of its being theatrically stylized and extravagantly artificial, self-consciously artless, or ironically ingenuous.

2. a person who adopts a teasing, theatrical manner, especially for the amusement of others.

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verb (used without object)

1. Also camp it up to speak or behave in a coquettishly playful or extravagantly theatrical manner.

adjective

1. campy.

   camp Hollywood musicals of the 1940s.

Camp ³ American  

[kamp] / kæmp /

noun

1. Walter Chauncey 1859–1925, U.S. football coach and author.

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cAMP ⁴ American  

[kamp] / kæmp /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. cyclic AMP.

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camp ¹ British  

/ kæmp /

noun

1. a place where tents, cabins, or other temporary structures are erected for the use of military troops, for training soldiers, etc

2. the military life

3. tents, cabins, etc, used as temporary lodgings by a group of travellers, holiday-makers, Scouts, etc

4. the group of people living in such lodgings

5. a field or paddock fenced off as pasture

6. a group supporting a given doctrine or theory

   the socialist camp

7. a place where sheep or cattle gather to rest

8. (modifier) suitable for use in temporary quarters, on holiday, etc, esp by being portable and easy to set up

   a camp bed

   a camp chair

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verb

1. to establish or set up a camp

2. to live temporarily in or as if in a tent

3. (tr) to put in a camp

camp ² British  

/ kæmp /

adjective

1. effeminate; affected in mannerisms, dress, etc

2. homosexual

3. consciously artificial, exaggerated, vulgar, or mannered; self-parodying, esp when in dubious taste

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verb

1. (tr) to perform or invest with a camp quality

2. 1. to seek to focus attention on oneself by making an ostentatious display, overacting, etc

   2. to flaunt one's homosexuality

noun

1. a camp quality, style, etc

Camp ³ British  

/ kæmp /

noun

1. Walter ( Chauncey ). 1859–1925, US sportsman and administrator; he introduced new rules to American football, which distinguished it from rugby.

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camp Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing camp

• break camp
• foot in both camps
• happy camper

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Other Word Forms

• camping noun

Etymology

Origin of camp¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Middle French can, camp, originally dialect (Normandy, Picardy) or from Old Provençal, from Italian campo, from Latin campus “field, battlefield”; compare Old English campe, compe “battle, battlefield” (cognate with German Kampf “struggle”), from Germanic, from Latin

Origin of camp²

First recorded in 1865–70 as campish; spelling camp dates to 1905–10; of uncertain origin; perhaps from French se camper “to pose, portray oneself”; perhaps dialectal camp “impetuous, uncouth person,” hence, “slightly objectionable, effeminate, gay”; in some senses probably special use of camp ¹ (in the sense “army camp”), where “camp followers,” a euphemism for prostitutes, were notorious for licentiousness

Explanation

When you camp, you set up a temporary place to sleep outdoors, often in a tent. Many people like to camp in a beautiful spot, like the mountains or beside a lake. Use the word camp to describe what you do when you sleep under the stars, and also the site itself — after a day of hiking, you could say, "Let's head back to camp." You can also talk about your usual group of friends or co-workers as your camp. Political parties are described this way sometimes: "She was popular in the Democratic camp." The root is the Latin word campus, which means "open field, or level space."

Example Sentences

Bernadette Joy, founder of the financial boot camp Crush Your Money Goals, paid off $300,000 of debt in three years by making small, consistent changes to her behavior.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026

There would be additional daily charges, she said, to cover childcare for a few extra hours after camp programming ends.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

“You’re working for a place to retire and enjoy life. And then they pull this stunt on you,” said Philip Carlos, 72, a retired oil-field worker whose family has a camp.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

He said shortly afterwards they called again to confirm he was not on camp and they were contacting the police.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

One of the camp dogs jumped on top of her, showering her with snow, and nudging his cold nose under her chin.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Related Words

• encampment
• tent