camp
Camp (noun) means a place with tents, cabins, or temporary shelters where people stay, especially outdoors. Example: “We pitched camp beside the river before dark.”
How to Use Camp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a place to stay outdoors, or (as an adjective) a deliberately theatrical, over-the-top style.
The outdoor "camp" and the theatrical "camp" (as in camp humour or camp fashion) are unrelated senses that just happen to share a spelling.
Word Forms
camper comparative, camped past tense, camps plural, camps singular, campest superlative
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
We pitched _____ beside the river before dark.
Etymology
Origin uncertain; possibly linked to French camper ("to strike a pose") for the theatrical sense, and to Latin campus ("field") for the outdoor-shelter sense.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related Words
Rhymes for camp
See all rhymes for camp →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “camp” mean?
The word “camp” means a place with tents, cabins, or temporary shelters where people stay, especially outdoors. In plain terms, either a place to stay outdoors, or (as an adjective) a deliberately theatrical, over-the-top style.
How do you pronounce “camp”?
“Camp” is pronounced KAMP (/ˈkeə̯mp/ in IPA).
How do you use “camp” in a sentence?
Here is “camp” used in a sentence: “We pitched camp beside the river before dark.”
What is another word for “camp”?
Words with a similar meaning to “camp” include campy and campish.
What is the opposite of “camp”?
The opposite of “camp” — its antonyms — are uncamp and uncampy.
What part of speech is “camp”?
Depending on how it is used, “camp” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “camp” come from?
The word “camp” comes from Latin. Origin uncertain; possibly linked to French camper ("to strike a pose") for the theatrical sense, and to Latin campus ("field") for the outdoor-shelter sense.
Is “camp” a common word?
“Camp” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between a camp and a campsite?
A camp is the group of tents, cabins, or shelters together with the people staying there, while a campsite is specifically the plot of ground or the facility set aside for camping. You pitch your tent on a campsite; once you are settled in with others, the whole arrangement becomes a camp.
What are the different types of camps?
Camps serve many purposes. Summer camps host children for outdoor activities, boot camps run intensive training, and base camps support climbers or expeditions. There are also refugee camps for displaced people and military camps for troops. The common thread is temporary shelter where a group stays for a shared reason.
What is an example of a camp?
A summer camp is a familiar example: children stay in cabins for a week or two, taking part in swimming, hiking, and campfires. A mountaineering base camp is another — a cluster of tents where climbers rest and prepare before attempting a summit.