a place where an army or other group of persons or an individual is lodged in a tent or tents or other temporary means of shelter.
such tents or shelters collectively:The regiment transported its camp in trucks.
the persons so sheltered:The camp slept through the storm.
the act of camping out:Camp is far more pleasant in summer than in winter.
any temporary structure, as a tent or cabin, used on an outing or vacation.
a group of troops, workers, etc., camping and moving together.
army life.
a group of people favoring the same ideals, doctrines, etc.:Most American voters are divided into two camps, Republicans and Democrats.
any position in which ideals, doctrines, etc., are strongly entrenched:After considering the other side's argument, he changed camps.
a recreation area in the country, equipped with extensive facilities for sports.
See day camp.
See summer camp.
v.i.
to establish or pitch a camp:The army camped in the valley.
to live temporarily in or as if in a camp or outdoors, usually for recreation (often fol. by out):They camped by the stream for a week.
to reside or lodge somewhere temporarily or irregularly, esp. in an apartment, room, etc.:They camped in our apartment whenever they came to town.
to settle down securely and comfortably; become ensconced:The kids camped on our porch until the rain stopped.
to take up a position stubbornly:They camped in front of the president's office.
v.t.
to put or station (troops) in a camp; shelter.
Latin
Gmc
Latin campus field; compare Old English campe, compe battle, battlefield (cognate with German Kampf struggle)
Italian campo
Old Provencal
Middle French can, camp, origin, originally dialect, dialectal (Normandy, Picardy) or
1520–30
camp2(kamp),USA pronunciationn.
something that provides sophisticated, knowing amusement, as by virtue of its being artlessly mannered or stylized, self-consciously artificial and extravagant, or teasingly ingenuous and sentimental.
a person who adopts a teasing, theatrical manner, esp. for the amusement of others.
v.i.
Also, camp it up. to speak or behave in a coquettishly playful or extravagantly theatrical manner.
adj.
campy:camp Hollywood musicals of the 1940s.
1905–10; perh. dialect, dialectal camp impetuous, uncouth person (see kemp1); hence, slightly objectionable, effeminate, homosexual; in some senses probably special use of camp1 brothel, meeting place of male homosexuals
Camp(kamp),USA pronunciationn.Walter Chaun•cey(chôn′sē, chän′-),USA pronunciation 1859–1925, U.S. football coach and author. cAMP(kamp),USA pronunciationn.[Biochem.]