Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense camps, present participle camping, past tense, past participle camped
1. countable noun [oft noun NOUN]
A camp is a collection of huts and other buildings that is provided for a particular group of people, such as refugees, prisoners, or soldiers, as a place to live or stay.
...a refugee camp.
2,500 foreign prisoners-of-war, including Americans, had been held in camps nearTambov.
2. variable noun
A camp is an outdoor area with buildings, tents, or caravans where people stay on holiday.
3. variable noun
A camp is a collection of tents or caravans where people are living or staying, usuallytemporarily while they are travelling.
...gypsy camps.
We'll make camp on that hill ahead.
4. verb
If you camp somewhere, you stay or live there for a short time in a tent or caravan, or in the open air.
We camped near the beach. [VERB]
...the men, who are camping on the pavement in sleeping bags. [VERB]
Camp out means the same as camp.
For six months they camped out in a caravan in a meadow at the back of the house. [VERBPARTICLE]
campinguncountable noun
They went camping in the wilds. [+ in]
...a camping trip.
5. countable noun
You can refer to a group of people who all support a particular person, policy, or idea as a particular camp.
While the 'yes' camp remains in the lead, the jump in numbers of undecideds willcause alarm.
...a close colleague, who had sided with the opposite camp in an office dispute.
6. adjective
If you describe someone's behaviour, performance, or style of dress as camp, you mean that it is exaggerated and amusing, often in a way that is thought to be typical of some male homosexuals.
[informal]
James Barron turns in a delightfully camp performance.
Camp is also a noun.
The video was seven minutes of high camp and melodrama.
7. See also aide-de-camp, camped, concentration camp, holiday camp, labour camp, prison camp, training camp
8.
See camp it up
Phrasal verbs:
See camp out
More Synonyms of camp
camp in British English1
(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. South Africa
a field or paddock fenced off as pasture
6.
a group supporting a given doctrine or theory
the socialist camp
7. Australian
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
verb
9. (intransitive; often foll bydown)
to establish or set up a camp
10. (intransitive; often foll byout)
to live temporarily in or as if in a tent
11. (transitive)
to put in a camp
Derived forms
camping (ˈcamping)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Old French, ultimately from Latin campus field
camp in British English2
(kæmp) informal
adjective
1.
effeminate; affected in mannerisms, dress, etc
2.
consciously artificial, exaggerated, vulgar, or mannered; self-parodying, esp when in dubious taste
verb
3. (transitive)
to perform or invest with a camp quality
4. camp it up
noun
5.
a camp quality, style, etc
Word origin
C20: of uncertain origin
Camp in British English
(kæmp)
noun
Walter (Chauncey). 1859–1925, US sportsman and administrator; he introduced new rules to American football, which distinguished it from rugby
Camp in American English
(kæmp)
Walter (Chauncey)1859-1925; U.S. football authority and coach
camp in American English
(kæmp)
noun
1.
a.
a place where tents, huts, barracks, or other more or less temporary structures have been put up, as for soldiers intraining or in bivouac
b.
military life
2.
a.
a group of people who support or advance a common opinion, cause, etc.
b.
the position taken by such a group
3.
a tent, cabin, etc., or a group of these, used for temporary lodging, as by hunters or fishermen
4.
a place in the country for vacationers, esp. children, with outdoor recreation, often organized and supervised
5.
the people living in a camp
6. US, Slang
a.
banality, mediocrity, artifice, ostentation, etc. so extreme as to amuse or have a perversely sophisticated appeal
b.
exaggerated effeminate mannerisms, usually affected for amusement
adjective US
7. Slang
characterized by camp (sense 6)
verb intransitive
8.
to set up a camp; encamp
9.
to live or stay in or as if in a camp
often with out
verb transitive
10.
to put into a camp
11.
to provide with accommodations
Idioms:
break camp
camp it up
Word origin
Fr < OProv < L campus, a field: see campus; (sense 6) orig., homosexual jargon
More idioms containing
camp
pitch camp
a camp follower
COBUILD Collocations
camp
army camp
both camps
liberate a camp
makeshift camp
migrant camp
military camp
opposing camps
rival camps
Examples of 'camp' in a sentence
camp
He was asked where his training camp was.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He asked to go back to internment camp instead of prison.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
They were diverted to the town hall, where camp beds were set up for them.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The ruling came as police began clearing up to 10,000 people at the camp.
The Sun (2016)
And after they performed as a pair, they sealed their place at boot camp.
The Sun (2016)
There's a log burner inside and a camp fire area outside that's perfect for stargazing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Two ideologically opposed camps often become strange bedfellows.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We thought we were close to camp but we still had another three hours to go.
The Sun (2009)
His team established camps in a forest.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There were more than a hundred camps in this area alone.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The new training camp will open next month.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Still there were so many people that many camped in trees and caves.
Eric Newby A BOOK OF LANDS AND PEOPLES (2003)
Now a younger generation of gym bunnies has put the boot camp back into ballet.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We also camp in the summer and need generous boot space.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He had a great love of the outdoors and enjoyed hill walking and camping with his family.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Was your father remotely camp in any way?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They were on a camping holiday with their parents.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
His older brothers always had to ask him to use the knife as we were setting up camp.
Christianity Today (2000)
Wulfgar heard her footsteps stamping back to the camp and in the darkness her footsteps at his own inadequacy.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
There will be winners and losers on the high street and the split between the two camps is only likely to grow.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It'll probably become a camp classic.
The Sun (2006)
Exclusive video Tamil displacement camps timesonline.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
camp
British English: camp /kæmp/ NOUN
A camp is a place where people live or stay in tents or caravans.
...a refugee camp.
American English: camp
Arabic: مُعَسْكَر
Brazilian Portuguese: acampamento
Chinese: 露营地
Croatian: kamp
Czech: kemp
Danish: lejr
Dutch: kamp
European Spanish: campamento
Finnish: leiri
French: camp
German: Lager
Greek: κατασκήνωση
Italian: campeggio
Japanese: キャンプ
Korean: 야영지
Norwegian: leir
Polish: obóz
European Portuguese: acampamento
Romanian: tabără
Russian: лагерь
Latin American Spanish: campamento
Swedish: läger
Thai: ค่าย
Turkish: kamp
Ukrainian: табір
Vietnamese: trại
British English: camp /kæmp/ VERB
If you camp somewhere, you stay there in a tent or caravan.
We camped near the beach.
American English: camp
Arabic: يُخَيِّمُ
Brazilian Portuguese: acampar
Chinese: 扎营
Croatian: kampirati
Czech: kempovat
Danish: slå lejr
Dutch: kamperen
European Spanish: acampar
Finnish: leiriytyä
French: camper
German: zelten
Greek: κατασκηνώνω
Italian: accamparsi
Japanese: キャンプする
Korean: 야영하다
Norwegian: campe
Polish: obozować
European Portuguese: acampar
Romanian: a campa
Russian: разбивать лагерь
Latin American Spanish: acampar
Swedish: tälta
Thai: ไปค่าย
Turkish: kamp yapmak
Ukrainian: ставати табором
Vietnamese: cắm trại
British English: camp ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone's behaviour, performance, or style of dress as camp, you mean that it is exaggerated and amusing.
The acrtor turns in a delightfully camp performance.
American English: camp
Brazilian Portuguese: afeminado
Chinese: 装模作样的
European Spanish: afeminado
French: efféminé
German: aufgedonnert
Italian: esageratamente effeminato
Japanese: 大げさでわざとらしい
Korean: 남자가 일부러 동성애같이 행동하는 과장된 행동
European Portuguese: afeminado
Latin American Spanish: afeminado
All related terms of 'camp'
army camp
A camp is a collection of huts and other buildings that is provided for a particular group of people, such as refugees , prisoners , or soldiers, as a place to live or stay .
base camp
an encampment that serves as a staging area for a larger activity, for example in mountaineering
boot camp
In the United States , a boot camp is a camp where people who have just joined the army , navy, or marines are trained.
camp bed
A camp bed is a small bed that you can fold up.
camp out
If you say that people camp out somewhere in the open air, you are emphasizing that they stay there for a long time, because they are waiting for something to happen.
camp oven
a metal pot or box with a heavy lid , used for baking over an open fire
camp pie
tinned meat
fat camp
a residential camp at which children undergo a programme of exercise , diet change, etc, intended to help them lose weight
high camp
effeminate ; affected in mannerisms , dress, etc
low camp
effeminate ; affected in mannerisms , dress, etc
POW camp
Prisoner of War camp : a place where soldiers who have been captured by their enemy during a war are kept as prisoners until the end of the war
rest camp
a camp where soldiers rest
work camp
a camp set up for young people who voluntarily do manual work on a worthwhile project
break camp
to pack up equipment and leave a camp
camp chair
a lightweight folding chair
Camp David
the US president's retreat in the Appalachian Mountains, Maryland : scene of the Camp David Agreement ( Sept , 1978) between Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin of Israel , mediated by Jimmy Carter , which outlined a framework for establishing peace in the Middle East. This agreement was the basis of the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt signed in Washington , DC ( March , 1979)
camp ground
an area on which holiday-makers may pitch a tent , etc
camp robber
→ Canada jay
camp stove
a portable stove powered by butane gas canisters , designed to be used for cooking while camping
death camp
A death camp is a place where prisoners are kept , especially during a war , and where many of them die or are killed .
health camp
a camp , usually at the seaside , for children requiring health care
labor camp
a camp for confining political prisoners , prisoners of war, dissidents , etc., who are forced to perform physical labor
labour camp
A labour camp is a kind of prison , where the prisoners are forced to do hard, physical work, usually outdoors .
motor camp
a camp for motorists , tents , and caravans
nudist camp
a resort where nudism is practiced
pitch camp
to settle somewhere or have control of a certain area for a period of time
prison camp
A prison camp is a guarded camp where prisoners of war or political prisoners are kept.
Scout camp
an organized camping event for Scouts
summer camp
In the United States , a summer camp is a place in the country where parents can pay to send their children during the school summer holidays . The children staying there can take part in many outdoor and social activities.
tennis camp
a camp that people go to in order to play and be taught tennis
Camp Bastion
a large British military base in Helmand province , Afghanistan , built in 2006
camp-drafting
a competitive test, esp at an agricultural show, of horsemen's skill in drafting cattle
camp follower
If you describe someone as a camp follower , you mean that they do not officially belong to a particular group or movement but support it for their own advantage .
camp it up
If a performer camps it up , they deliberately perform in an exaggerated and often amusing way.
camp meeting
a religious meeting held in a large tent or outdoors , often lasting several days
holiday camp
In Britain , a holiday camp is a place which provides holiday accommodation and entertainment for large numbers of people.
migrant camp
A camp is a collection of huts and other buildings that is provided for a particular group of people, such as refugees, prisoners , or soldiers, as a place to live or stay .
military camp
A camp is a collection of huts and other buildings that is provided for a particular group of people, such as refugees , prisoners , or soldiers , as a place to live or stay .
refugee camp
a camp for sheltering and protecting people who have fled from some danger or problem, esp political persecution
trailer camp
a mobile home site
training camp
A training camp for soldiers or sports players is an organized period of training at a particular place.
transit camp
a camp in which refugees , soldiers , etc, live temporarily before moving to another destination
aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is an officer in the armed forces who helps an officer of higher rank.
aids-de-camp
a military officer serving as personal assistant to a senior
camp counsellor
an adult supervisor assigned to a group of campers at a summer camp
camp counselor
an adult supervisor assigned to a group of campers at a summer camp
detention camp
a compound where prisoners are detained temporarily, as pending determination of their legal status under immigration laws
internment camp
a camp for the accommodation of internees , esp during wartime
makeshift camp
A camp is a collection of huts and other buildings that is provided for a particular group of people, such as refugees , prisoners , or soldiers, as a place to live or stay .
sleepaway camp
a camp providing facilities for teenagers to sleep away from home