stamp

1 of 2

verb

ˈstamp 

transitive sense 2a & intransitive sense 2 are also

ˈstämp 

 or  ˈstȯmp

stamped; stamping; stamps

transitive verb

1

: to pound or crush with a pestle or a heavy instrument

2

a(1)

: to strike or beat forcibly with the bottom of the foot

(2)

: to bring down (the foot) forcibly

b

: to extinguish or destroy by or as if by stamping with the foot

—usually used with out

stamp out cancer

3

a

: impress, imprint

stamp "paid" on the bill

b

: to attach a stamp to

4

: to cut out, bend, or form with a stamp or die

5

a

: to provide with a distinctive character

stamped with a dreary, institutionalized look

—Bernard Taper

b

: characterize

stamped as honest women

—W. M. Thackeray

intransitive verb

1

: pound sense 1

2

: to strike the foot forcibly or noisily downward

stamp

2 of 2

noun

1

: a device or instrument for stamping

2

: the impression or mark made by stamping or imprinting

3

a

: a distinctive character, indication, or mark

b

: a lasting imprint

4

: the act of stamping

5

: a stamped or printed paper affixed in evidence that a tax has been paid

also : postage stamp

stampless adjective

Synonyms

Verb

• barge
• clump
• flog [British]
• flounder
• galumph
• lumber
• lump
• plod
• pound
• scuff
• scuffle
• shamble
• shuffle
• slog
• slough
• stomp
• stumble
• stump
• tramp
• tromp
• trudge

Noun

• impress
• impression
• imprint
• print

Examples of stamp in a Sentence

Verb

He stamped his foot in anger.

He stamped out of the room.

She stamped the bill “paid.”

Noun

There was a stamp on the letter showing the date when it was received.

a stamp left in the mud by some prehistoric beast

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Twenty-four centuries later, automakers are relying on electric arc furnaces, hot stamping machines, and quenching and partitioning processes that the ancients could never have imagined. —John Johnson Jr., Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Aug. 2024

At the Olympic Games this summer, Black athletes will take to the world stage in Paris outfitted in red, white and blue, representing the United States with stars and stripes stamped across their uniforms. —Isabel Yip, NBC News, 24 July 2024

Noun

Over time, programs evolved alongside other technologies, making redemption more efficient and eliminating the need to store physical stamps and punch cards. —Allen Kopelman, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024

In 2001: The U.S. Postal Service issued the first stamp celebrating Muslim holidays. —The Arizona Republic, 2 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English; akin to Old High German stampfōn to stamp and perhaps to Greek stembein to shake up

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stamp

• food stamp
• postage-due stamp
• postage stamp
• pre-stamp
• put/leave one's stamp
• re-stamp
• revenue stamp
• rubber stamp
• stamp as
• stamp collecting
• stamp mill
• stamp of approval
• stamp on
• stamp out
• stamp tax
• tax stamp
• time stamp
• trading stamp
• tramp stamp

Kids Definition

stamp

1 of 2 verb

ˈstamp 

 senses 1b & 2 are also  ˈstämp,

 or  ˈstȯmp

1

a

: to pound or crush with a heavy instrument

b

: to strike or beat forcibly with the bottom of the foot

c

: to put an end to or destroy by or as if by stamping with the foot

2

: to walk heavily or noisily

3

a

: impress entry 1 sense 1, imprint

stamp the bill "paid"

b

: to attach a stamp to

stamp a letter

4

: to form with a stamp or die

5

: characterize sense 1

stamped as reliable workers

stamper noun

stamp

2 of 2 noun

1

: a device or instrument for stamping

2

: the mark made by stamping

3

: a sign of a special quality

a stamp of genius

4

: the act of stamping

5

a

: a stamped or printed paper attached to something to show that a tax or fee has been paid

b

: postage stamp

Legal Definition

stamp

noun

: an official mark or seal set on something (as a deed) chargeable with a government or state duty or tax or on papers requiring execution under certain conditions to signify that the duty or tax has been paid or the condition fulfilled

especially : revenue stamp