I. ˈkamp, -aa(ə)-, -ai- noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle French, probably from Old North French or Old Provençal, from Latin campus plain, field; akin to Old High German hamf crippled, Gothic hamfs maimed, Greek kampē bend, turning, Lithuanian kampas corner, region; basic meaning: bend; hence, concavity, depression
1. : a place of temporary shelter, lodging, or residence often at a distance from urban areas or the tents, cabins, or other buildings used for such shelter, lodging, or residence:
a. : the ground on which tents or buildings are erected for shelter or usually temporary residence (as for troops, prisoners, or vacationers)
b. : the group of tents, cabins, or buildings either temporary or permanent in construction or location erected on such ground
an army camp
fishing camps are located all along the river
c. : a town usually new and often temporary sprung up especially in an isolated lumbering or mining region
the well-known gold camps of Canada — A.M.Bateman
d. Australia : a place of rest, lodging, or assembly ; specifically : a place where cattle or other livestock are rounded up
e.
(1) : a place provided with tents or cabins usually in mountain or lake areas designed for rest or recreation especially for children during the summer
the boys went to camp every July
(2) : the institution of going or sending children to such a camp
camp during the summer gets children away from the hot cities
2.
a. : a company or body of persons (as soldiers) encamped or moving in a group
b.
(1) : a group or body of persons acting unanimously ; especially : a group engaged in promoting or defending a given theory or doctrine
testified that the world was divided into two camps, the exploiting capitalists and the proletariat — Eleanor Davis & Valentine Ughet
(2) : an ideological position usually strongly defended
had unexpectedly gone over to the rival camp
3.
a. : the scene of military service
the soldier's conduct was all right for camp but was not acceptable in polite society
b. : military service : life in the military service
the recreations of camp and court
4. Australia : a camping expedition (as for hunting)
5. : a lodge or local chapter of a society or league
addressed the veteran camps throughout the state
6. southern Africa : a large field usually used for pasture
the farm was divided into a dozen camps
7. : a shack used for permanent habitation
8. : a military post that is not a permanent installation
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle French camper, from camp, n.
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to pitch or occupy a camp
he had camped under a tree … and slept until dawn — Irwin Shaw
you drive down the hill … where Rochambeau's army camped — Gladys Taber
b. : to live usually temporarily in a camp or outdoors especially for recreation — often used with out
it had been a cold time of year to camp out — H.L.Davis
2.
a. : to take up one's quarters : lodge
it was in a modest little flat … that he now camped whenever the claims of scholarship brought him to town — Aldous Huxley
b. : to occupy quarters that are unsuitable or temporarily uncomfortable
the whole family camped on the first floor of the unfinished house
3.
a. : to take up one's position : settle down
they camped around the room, talking idly among themselves and waiting — Maeve Brennan
b. : to settle down to or as if to a siege or pursuit
reporters camped upon his doorstep day and night — H.L.Mencken
they camped on his trail for 20 miles
4. Australia : sleep , nap , rest
transitive verb
1.
a. : to put or station in a camp : establish a camp for
all his host camped themselves in Willingham field — Charles Kingsley
b. : to provide with temporary shelter or accommodations
it was necessary to camp the refugees on the wall — Nora Waln
2. Southern Africa : to divide into camps
the farm is fenced and camped
III. ˈkamp, -aa(ə)-, -ai- noun
( -s -es -er/-est )
Etymology: origin unknown
1. : exaggerated effeminate mannerisms (as of speech or gesture) exhibited especially by homosexuals ; also : a homosexual displaying such mannerisms
2. : something that is so outrageously artificial, affected, inappropriate, or out-of-date as to be considered amusing
3. : something self-consciously exaggerated or theatrical
• camp·i·ly -pəlē, -li adverb
• camp·i·ness noun
• campy adjective
IV. " adjective
: of, relating to, being, or displaying camp
camp send-ups of the songs of the fifties and sixties — John Elsom
V. " intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: 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