tamp

1 of 2

verb

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 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

In managing Trump to victory, Wiles showed real skill in tamping down egos, minimizing leaking, and limiting the backstabbing. —Tevi Troy, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Feb. 2025

Higher interest rates hamper the flow of money through the economy, cooling consumer appetite for spending and, in this case, hopefully tamping down demand for workers that has contributed to a spike in wages. —Cnbc Pro Staff, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025

Noun

Could the cease-fire tamp down on the regional fighting that’s taken place since October 7? —Foreign Affairs, 17 Jan. 2025

Four years ago, when Trump lost, Zuckerberg had Meta tamp down on conspiracies after Trump’s election denial and Jan. 6 attack and banned the defeated president from Facebook and Instagram. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 Jan. 2025

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

Rhymes for tamp

• amp
• champ
• clamp
• cramp
• damp
• gamp
• lamp
• ramp
• samp
• scamp
• stamp
• tramp

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