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• temp
  temp

  noun

  an office worker hired, usually through an agency on a per diem basis, for a short period of time; a temporary worker.
• temp.
  temp.

  abbreviation

  temperature.

temp

¹ American  

[temp] / tɛmp /

noun

temps plural

1. an office worker hired, usually through an agency on a per diem basis, for a short period of time; a temporary worker.

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verb (used without object)

temps, present (3rd person singular) temped, past participle, past temping present participle

1. to work on a per diem basis or as a temporary employee.

temp. ² American  

abbreviation

1. temperature.

2. temporary.

3. in the time of.

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temp. ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. temperate

2. temperature

3. temporary

4. tempore

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temp ² British  

/ tɛmp /

noun

1. a person, esp a typist or other office worker, employed on a temporary basis

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verb

1. (intr) to work as a temp

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• temps
  plural

Participles

• temping
  present
• temped
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• temp
  simple
• temps
  simple
• have temped
  perfect
• has temped
  perfect
• am temping
  progressive
• are temping
  progressive
• is temping
  progressive
• have been temping
  perfect progressive
• has been temping
  perfect progressive

Past

• temped
  simple
• had temped
  perfect
• was temping
  progressive
• were temping
  progressive
• had been temping
  perfect progressive

Future

• will temp
  simple
• will have temped
  perfect
• will be temping
  progressive
• will have been temping
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of temp¹

First recorded in 1930–35; by shortening

Origin of temp.²

From the Latin word tempore

Example Sentences

Temp the stuffing just as you would the bird, deep in the center of the stuffing.

From Salon • Nov. 25, 2024

Temp agencies are good sources of short-term gigs and of ideas for how to put Hollywood know-how to work in other industries.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2024

"Temp" is scribbled next to it, for temporary.

From Fox News • Sep. 2, 2021

Forget pie and cannolis; next year Temp Tee cream cheese for everyone!

From New York Times • Jun. 12, 2017

As he drifted off, he thought he heard Temp, or maybe it was Tick, whispering, “Honors us, the princess, honors us?”

From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• aide
• apprentice
• associate
• attendant
• backup
• colleague
• companion
• deputy
• friend
• partner
• representative
• secretary