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

The drug is used safely to tamp down over-active immune responses in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, as well as to treat and prevent malaria. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024

The Franklin Fire in Malibu, fanned by strong winds, has burned through more than 4,000 acres this week, but a change in weather and the end of red flag warnings give firefighters hope to tamp out the inferno. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 13 Dec. 2024

Noun

Earlier this year, the lawmaker voiced opposition to the Connect the Grid Act, which sought to connect the Lone Star state's electric grid to surrounding national grids to boost reliability and tamp down on costs. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 27 Aug. 2024

No Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Kansas or Texas Tech on the schedule should help the run defense tamp down, but UCF still has to go on the road to Florida, Iowa State and West Virginia and gets Arizona and Utah at home. —Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024

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