tamp

1 of 2

verb

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 2

noun

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

Examples of tamp in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Card rates rose along with interest rates generally: Federal regulators launched a historic campaign of rate increases to tamp down inflation, which peaked at a 40-year high of over 9% in the summer of 2022. Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2024 But TikTok is also using the stock compensation as a tool to tamp down dissent. Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 Pro tip: Pair this with Amika’s new Smooth Over Frizz-Fighting Hair Treatment to tamp down flyaways. Mary Honkus, Glamour, 7 Mar. 2024 These include inhalers that deliver steroids to the lungs to tamp down inflammation but are not absorbed by the body and antibody treatments for autoimmune disorders. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 29 Feb. 2024 The former employees say Reddit has discussed how to tamp down similar activity with its own shares as well as any protests on the service in its first days of public trading. Robert Peck, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024 The evictions, which started last month, are part of an effort by the Adams administration to tamp down ballooning costs for the migrant shelters and to clear space for new immigrants who continue to arrive from the border. Olivia Bensimon Todd Heisler, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 The prompt and painless success in tamping down the post-Pandemic inflationary wave would seem to confirm the optimistic view. George Calhoun, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 Tech leaders at all levels across social media platforms should be part of the effort to tamp down fake traffic and stop the proliferation of falsehoods. Guy Tytunovich, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Noun
The outcome could help spur or further tamp down the flow of money into Chinese markets when global confidence in China is already shaken. Alexandra Stevenson, New York Times, 29 Jan. 2024 It’s not known exactly how much an anti-inflammatory diet tamps down inflammation nor how much of certain food items someone should eat to see the benefits, Sharma said. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 18 Oct. 2023 But national unemployment, and perhaps local, will fluctuate and move upward in the coming months as the Fed tamp down on inflation takes effect. Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2023 Countertop espresso perfector For those who already have an at-home espresso machine and grinder, a tamp station and knock box are an ideal complement. Juliet Izon, wsj.com, 26 Sep. 2023 The goal is to gather enough evidence to demonstrate that a cortico-striatal loop is indeed the culprit of stuck thinking, and that jamming its synchronizing activity tamps down its effects. IEEE Spectrum, 18 Apr. 2019 Then, fill the frame with concrete or gravel and tamp or screed it to the leveled edges. Rena Behar, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2023 A lot of machines come with a plastic tamp, but few come with a proper distributor and tamp. Jaina Grey Jeffrey Van Camp, WIRED, 22 Dec. 2022 This complex spit prevents clotting and tamps down the victim’s immune response. John Sass, Field & Stream, 11 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tamp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tamp was in 1834

Dictionary Entries Near tamp

Cite this Entry

“Tamp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tamp. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tamp

verb
ˈtamp
1
: to drive in or down by a series of blows
2
: to put a check on : lessen
tamp down rumors
tamper noun

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