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

Trump's second tenure in the White House will be the opportunity to follow through on his promises: tamp down on immigration, protect American workers and cut government costs. —Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2025

House Democrats' two largest ideological factions are trying to tamp down their disagreements ahead of President-elect Trump's return to the White House, Axios has learned. —Andrew Solender, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025

Noun

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

Distributor & Tamp: A lot of machines come with a plastic tamp, but few come with a proper distributor and tamp. —Jaina Grey, WIRED, 12 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

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