tamp
1 of 2verb
ˈtamp 
tamped; tamping; tamps
transitive verb
1
: to drive in or down by a succession of light or medium blows
tamp wet concrete
2
: to put a check on : reduce, lessen
tamp down rumors
tamp
2 of 2noun
plural tamps
: a tool for tamping : tamper entry 2
Fill the form half full with fresh, undisturbed snow, firmly packing it down using the cutout can bottom as a tamp; tamp around the inside edges as you go.
James Boone
James Boone
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Charlotte Germane, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2022 In recent years, the company has earnestly sought to tamp down the nastiness and build new products with mass appeal, from the short-video tool Vine to the live-streaming site Periscope to the live-audio feature Spaces. Will Oremus, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 Companies are also looking to automation and software to help tamp down rising logistics costs and meet growing demand for e-commerce and delivery services. Jennifer Smith, WSJ, 30 Dec. 2021 In an effort to tamp down on inflation, the Federal Reserve has increased interest rates by three-quarters of a percent, the steepest hike in nearly 30 years. oregonlive, 28 June 2022 Investors remain laser focused on the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting today and Wednesday, as the central bank is expected to again raise rates in an effort to tamp down surging prices. Taylor Telford, Washington Post, 14 June 2022 Biden also released a large amount of oil from the US petroleum reserves in an effort to tamp down gas prices. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 10 June 2022 The 1993 Brady handgun bill mandated background checks and waiting periods for handgun purchases in an effort to tamp down violence in major cities. Jake Bittle, The New Republic, 9 June 2022 The aforementioned PACs have poured millions into the race for Foushee, a move some in the state have interpreted as an effort to tamp down on the influence of the party's progressive wing. Byaveri Harper, ABC News, 17 May 2022 Rennie Dyball, PEOPLE.com, 11 July 2022 If the hole was mistakenly dug too deep, put some native soil back in the hole and tamp firmly. Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 26 Oct. 2020 Karen reported that Amazon is trying tricks to get people to order less — like showing long delivery times on items deemed low priority, to give Amazon more flexibility to fulfill orders and tamp down demand. Shira Ovide, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2020 But with the public thirsty for information on the coronavirus, doctors across the country have taken to social media — Twitter, in particular — to snuff out misinformation, tamp down rumors and spread science about the coronavirus outbreaks. Michael Cabanatuan, SFChronicle.com, 4 Apr. 2020 The key question now is whether the US counterattack tamps down the cycle of violence or escalates it. BostonGlobe.com, 31 Dec. 2019 That is why the museum exhibitions would make extensive use of quotations and oral histories that would let the voices of the past, the words of those who lived the experiences, drown out or at least tamp down the traditional curatorial voice. Lonnie G. Bunch Iii, Smithsonian, 19 Sep. 2019 Administration officials said the idea had not been pushed with Mr. Trump and tried to tamp talk of it down. New York Times, 19 Aug. 2019 Another study by food scientists at Cornell University also showed in 2015 that the noise level on flights tamps down sweet flavors but amps up umami tastes in substances like tomato juice. Author: Hannah Sampson, Anchorage Daily News, 21 June 2019 See More
Verb
Then top the planting area off with your compost and soil mixture, tamp down, and water well. Charlotte Germane, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2022 In recent years, the company has earnestly sought to tamp down the nastiness and build new products with mass appeal, from the short-video tool Vine to the live-streaming site Periscope to the live-audio feature Spaces. Will Oremus, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 Companies are also looking to automation and software to help tamp down rising logistics costs and meet growing demand for e-commerce and delivery services. Jennifer Smith, WSJ, 30 Dec. 2021 In an effort to tamp down on inflation, the Federal Reserve has increased interest rates by three-quarters of a percent, the steepest hike in nearly 30 years. oregonlive, 28 June 2022 Investors remain laser focused on the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting today and Wednesday, as the central bank is expected to again raise rates in an effort to tamp down surging prices. Taylor Telford, Washington Post, 14 June 2022 Biden also released a large amount of oil from the US petroleum reserves in an effort to tamp down gas prices. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 10 June 2022 The 1993 Brady handgun bill mandated background checks and waiting periods for handgun purchases in an effort to tamp down violence in major cities. Jake Bittle, The New Republic, 9 June 2022 The aforementioned PACs have poured millions into the race for Foushee, a move some in the state have interpreted as an effort to tamp down on the influence of the party's progressive wing. Byaveri Harper, ABC News, 17 May 2022 Noun
Cons: The tamp gets locked into the machine and can be hard to release; the instructions aren't thorough. Rennie Dyball, PEOPLE.com, 11 July 2022 If the hole was mistakenly dug too deep, put some native soil back in the hole and tamp firmly. Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 26 Oct. 2020 Karen reported that Amazon is trying tricks to get people to order less — like showing long delivery times on items deemed low priority, to give Amazon more flexibility to fulfill orders and tamp down demand. Shira Ovide, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2020 But with the public thirsty for information on the coronavirus, doctors across the country have taken to social media — Twitter, in particular — to snuff out misinformation, tamp down rumors and spread science about the coronavirus outbreaks. Michael Cabanatuan, SFChronicle.com, 4 Apr. 2020 The key question now is whether the US counterattack tamps down the cycle of violence or escalates it. BostonGlobe.com, 31 Dec. 2019 That is why the museum exhibitions would make extensive use of quotations and oral histories that would let the voices of the past, the words of those who lived the experiences, drown out or at least tamp down the traditional curatorial voice. Lonnie G. Bunch Iii, Smithsonian, 19 Sep. 2019 Administration officials said the idea had not been pushed with Mr. Trump and tried to tamp talk of it down. New York Times, 19 Aug. 2019 Another study by food scientists at Cornell University also showed in 2015 that the noise level on flights tamps down sweet flavors but amps up umami tastes in substances like tomato juice. Author: Hannah Sampson, Anchorage Daily News, 21 June 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
probably back-formation from obsolete tampion, tampin plug, from Middle English, from Middle French tapon, tampon, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German zapho tap — more at tap entry 3
First Known Use
Verb
1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1920, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
tamp
verb
ˈtamp
tamped; tamping
: to press down or in by hitting lightly
She tamped down the soil.