camp

kæmp

kāmp

/kæmp/

Definition & Meaning of "camp"in English

Camp

NOUN

a location where people stay temporarily, typically in tents or temporary structures

Examples

We set up camp near the lake for our weekend getaway.

1.1

a community or settlement established primarily for housing and employment purposes

Examples

The mining camp provided housing for workers and their families.

a military facility where troops are stationed for training or operational purposes

Examples

The soldiers returned to camp after their training exercises.

a recreational facility where children participate in organized activities during the summer

Dialect

American

Examples

The camp offers a variety of sports and arts programs for all ages.

a correctional facility where individuals are imprisoned, often under harsh conditions

Examples

Many prisoners were sent to a labor camp during the war.

a temporary refuge for people forced to flee their homes due to conflict, oppression, or persecution

Examples

The refugee camp was established to provide shelter for displaced families.

a group that shares a common belief, often in opposition to others

Examples

They belong to a camp that advocates for environmental protection.

a facility or location designated for athletes to prepare and practice in preparation for an upcoming sports season

Examples

The football team will hold a training camp to gear up for the upcoming season.

a style or work that is humorous or entertaining due to its lack of originality, often associated with clichés

Examples

The movie became a camp classic for its over-the-top performances and predictable plot.

a historical location that served as a defensive settlement, typically from the Iron Age

Dialect

British

Specialized

Examples

The ancient camp was strategically located for defense against invaders.

to camp

VERB

to make a temporary home or shelter, usually outdoors or in the wild

Intransitive: to camp somewhere

Examples

Every year, scouts from the local troop camp near the lake, practicing outdoor survival skills.

to live temporarily outdoors, often in a tent or camper

Intransitive: to camp somewhere

Examples

During the summer, families often camp in national parks to enjoy the beauty of nature.

(of a character in a video game) to hide or stay in one spot for an extended period of time in order to remain safe or to ambush other players

Intransitive: to camp somewhere

Examples

In the multiplayer shooter game, the sniper decided to camp on the high ground, picking off enemies from a distance.

camp

ADJECTIVE

marked by deliberate artificiality or sentimental exaggeration that becomes amusing through its self-conscious style

characterized by exaggerated, theatrical, or playful style often linked with queer aesthetics or overt femininity

Slang

What is the origin and meaning of the word "camp"?

The term camp describes an exaggerated, theatrical, and often humorous style that embraces artifice, irony, and extravagance, and it has deep roots in queer culture. Popularized in part by Susan Sontag's 1964 essay "Notes on 'Camp'," the aesthetic celebrates what is over-the-top, playful, and self-aware, often turning bad taste into high art. Camp can be expressed through fashion, performance, or behavior, and it has been a hallmark of drag culture, LGBTQIA+ theater, and pop icons who embrace flamboyance.

Examples

That performance was totally camp, over-the-top and hilarious.

Lexical Tree