camp
1 of 5noun (1)
ˈkamp 
often attributive
1
a
: a place usually away from urban areas where tents or simple buildings (such as cabins) are erected for shelter or for temporary residence (as for laborers, prisoners, or vacationers)
migrant labor camp
b
: a group of tents, cabins, or huts
fishing camps along the river
c
: a settlement newly sprung up in a lumbering or mining region
d
: a place usually in the country for recreation or instruction often during the summer
goes to camp every July
also : a program offering access to recreational or educational facilities for a limited period of time
computer camp
a resort offering boating and hiking camps
e
: a preseason training session for athletes
the star pitcher injured in camp this spring
2
a
: a body of persons encamped
b(1)
: a group of persons
especially : a group engaged in promoting or defending a theory, doctrine, position, or person
(2)
: an ideological position
3
: military service or life
camp
2 of 5verb (1)
camped; camping; camps
intransitive verb
1
: to make camp or occupy a camp
2
: to live temporarily in a camp or outdoors —often used with out
3
: to take up one's quarters : lodge
4
: to take up one's position : settle down —often used with out
camp out in the library for the afternoon
transitive verb
: to put into a camp
also : accommodate
camp
3 of 5noun (2)
1
a
: something so outrageously artificial, affected, inappropriate, or out-of-date as to be considered amusing
This version of the play is camp: outrageous in concept and wild in its execution with double entendres flying every which way.
b
: a style or mode of personal or creative expression that is absurdly exaggerated and often fuses elements of high and popular culture
a movie that celebrates camp
2
: exaggerated effeminate mannerisms (as of speech or gesture)
camp
4 of 5adjective
: of, relating to, being, or displaying camp : campy
camp send-ups of the songs of the fifties and sixties
John Elsom
John Elsomcamp
5 of 5verb (2)
camped; camping; camps
intransitive verb
: to engage in camp : exhibit the qualities of camp
he … was camping, hands on hips, with a quick eye to notice every man who passed by R. M. McAlmon
R. M. McAlmon
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- bivouac
- campground
- campsite
- encampment
- hutment
Verb (1)
- accommodate
- bestow
- billet
- bivouac
- board
- bunk
- chamber
- domicile
- encamp
- harbor
- house
- lodge
- put up
- quarter
- roof
- room
- shelter
- take in
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1) and Verb (1)
Middle French, probably from Middle French dialect (Picard) or Old Occitan, from Latin campus plain, field
Noun (2), Adjective, and Verb (2)
origin unknown
First Known Use
Noun (1)
1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb (1)
1543, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (2)
circa 1909, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Adjective
1909, in the meaning defined above
Verb (2)
1910, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing camp
Kids Definition
camp 1 of 2
noun
ˈkamp
1
: a place where temporary shelters are erected
The hikers set up camp for the night.
2
: a place or program for recreation or instruction usually during the summer
camp
2 of 2verb
camped; camping
1
: to make or occupy a camp
The travelers camped under a large tree.
2
: to sleep outdoors usually in a tent
We camped out overnight.
Medical Definition
cAMP
abbreviation
cyclic AMP
Biographical Definition
Camp
biographical name
ˈkamp
Walter Chauncey 1859–1925 American football coach
camped
verb
as in housed
to provide with living quarters or shelter some out-of-town delegates to the convention were camped in university dorms Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- housed
- encamped
- accommodated
- lodged
- sheltered
- bivouacked
- bunked
- boarded
- billeted
- roomed
- domiciled
- roofed
- quartered
- harbored
- bestowed
- chambered
- took in
- tented
- stabled
- ensconced
- roosted
- secured
- put up
- homed
- barracked
- shedded
- bedded (down)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ejected
- evicted