stamp

[stamp]

verb (used with object)

1. to strike or beat with a forcible, downward thrust of the foot.

2. to bring (the foot) down forcibly or smartly on the ground, floor, etc.

3. to extinguish, crush, etc., by striking with a forcible downward thrust of the foot (followed byout ).

   to stamp out a fire.

4. to suppress or quell (a rebellion, uprising, etc.) quickly through the use of overwhelming force (usually followed byout ).

   Synonyms: quash, eliminate

5. to crush or pound with or as with a pestle.

6. to impress with a particular mark or device, as to indicate genuineness, approval, or ownership.

   to stamp a document with a seal.

7. to mark or impress with a design, word, mark, etc..

   Age stamped his face with lines.

8. to impress (a design, word, mark, etc.) on.

   to stamp one's initials on a document.

9. to affix a postage stamp to (a letter, envelope, etc.).

10. to characterize, distinguish, or reveal.

    His ingenuity with words stamped him as a potential poet.

verb (used without object)

1. to bring the foot down forcibly or smartly, as in crushing something, expressing rage, etc.

2. to walk with forcible or heavy, resounding steps.

   He stamped out of the room in anger.

noun

1. a postage stamp.

2. an act or instance of stamping.

3. a die or block for impressing or imprinting.

4. a design or legend made with such a die or block.

5. an official mark indicating genuineness, validity, etc., or payment of a duty or charge.

6. a peculiar or distinctive impression or mark.

   a great man who left his stamp on legal procedure.

7. character, kind, or type.

   a woman of serious stamp.

8. an official seal or device appearing on a business or legal document to show that a tax has been paid.

9. Also called local. Also called local stamp. such a device, often similar to a postage stamp issued by a private organization to show that the charges for mail carrying have been paid.

10. trading stamp.

11. food stamp.

12. an instrument for stamping, crushing, or pounding.

13. a heavy piece of iron or the like, as in a stamp mill, for crushing ore or other material.

stamp

/ stæmp /

verb

1. to bring (the foot) down heavily (on the ground, etc)

2. (intr) to walk with heavy or noisy footsteps

3. to repress, extinguish, or eradicate

   he stamped on any criticism

4. (tr) to impress or mark (a particular device or sign) on (something)

5. to mark (something) with an official impress, seal, or device

   to stamp a passport

6. (tr) to fix or impress permanently

   the date was stamped on her memory

7. (tr) to affix a postage stamp to

8. (tr) to distinguish or reveal

   that behaviour stamps him as a cheat

9. to pound or crush (ores, etc)

noun

1. the act or an instance of stamping

2. 1. See postage stamp

   2. a mark applied to postage stamps for cancellation purposes

3. a similar piece of gummed paper used for commercial or trading purposes

4. a block, die, etc, used for imprinting a design or device

5. a design, device, or mark that has been stamped

6. a characteristic feature or trait; hallmark

   the story had the stamp of authenticity

7. a piece of gummed paper or other mark applied to official documents to indicate payment of a fee, validity, ownership, etc

8. informal,  a national insurance contribution, formerly recorded by means of a stamp on an official card

9. type or class

   we want to employ men of his stamp

10. an instrument or machine for crushing or pounding ores, etc, or the pestle in such a device

Other Word Forms

• stampable adjective
• stampless adjective
• misstamp verb (used with object)
• nonstampable adjective
• prestamp noun
• restamp verb
• superstamp noun
• understamp verb (used with object)
• unstamped adjective
• stamper noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of stamp¹

1150–1200; (v.) early Middle English stampen to pound, crush, probably continuing Old English *stampian (cognate with Middle Dutch, Middle Low German stampen, Old High German stampfōn, Old Norse stappa ); sense development apparently influenced by Old French estamper to stamp < Germanic; (noun) late Middle English: instrument for stamping an impression; partly derivative of the v., partly < Old French estampe, derivative of estamper

Word History and Origins

Origin of stamp¹

Old English stampe ; related to Old High German stampfōn to stamp, Old Norse stappa

Idioms and Phrases

• rubber stamp

Synonym Study

See abolish.

Example Sentences

A new set of stamps is being issued to mark 90 years since classic board game Monopoly launched in the UK.

Read more on BBC

“What I don’t like hearing is ‘We can’t find anyone,’” she said before putting her stamp of approval on a few comedians, including one of her staff members:

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It was new to us, and to many in the party too: the abolition of stamp duty on main homes in England and Northern Ireland.

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She said scrapping stamp duty - a tax on the sale of homes in England and Northern Ireland - will "unlock a fairer and more aspirational society" and help people of all ages.

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He was hoping for time to stamp his authority on the players, the team and the club but that was never likely to happen.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• emblem 
• print 
• signature 
• sticker 

When To Use

What else does stamp mean?

Content warning: the following content includes references to illicit drugs.In slang, stamp can refer to LSD (acid) or a bag of heroin.It can also be short for food stamps or the expression stamp of approval.