often attributive
1
a
: a place usually away from urban areas where tents or simple buildings (such as cabins) are erected for shelter or for temporary residence (as for laborers, prisoners, or vacationers)
migrant labor camp
b
: a group of tents, cabins, or huts
fishing camps along the river
c
: a settlement newly sprung up in a lumbering or mining region
d
: a place usually in the country for recreation or instruction often during the summer
goes to camp every July
also
: a program offering access to recreational or educational facilities for a limited period of time
computer camp
a resort offering boating and hiking camps
e
: a preseason training session for athletes
the star pitcher injured in camp this spring
2
a
: a body of persons encamped
b(1)
: a group of persons
especially
: a group engaged in promoting or defending a theory, doctrine, position, or person
(2)
: an ideological position
3
: military service or life
camped; camping; camps
1
: to make camp or occupy a camp
2
: to live temporarily in a camp or outdoors
—often used with out
3
: to take up one's quarters : lodge
4
: to take up one's position : settle down
—often used with out
camp out in the library for the afternoon
: to put into a camp
also
: accommodate
1
a
: something so outrageously artificial, affected, inappropriate, or out-of-date as to be considered amusing
This version of the play is camp: outrageous in concept and wild in its execution with double entendres flying every which way.
b
: a style or mode of personal or creative expression that is absurdly exaggerated and often fuses elements of high and popular culture
a movie that celebrates camp
2
: exaggerated effeminate mannerisms (as of speech or gesture)
camped; camping; camps
: to engage in camp : exhibit the qualities of camp
he … was camping, hands on hips, with a quick eye to notice every man who passed by—
R. M. McAlmon
R. M. McAlmonSynonyms
Examples of camp in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebMaura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2024
His father was arrested on the street, then sent by the Nazis to a succession of camps before he was killed in the gas chambers at Auschwitz.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY, 5 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for camp 
Noun
Hikers camp at a mix of locations, including the campground at the Camp Lockett Event & Equestrian Facility in Campo, where 1,300 hikers have camped this year from the beginning of March through April.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2024
His father was arrested on the street, then sent by the Nazis to a succession of camps before he was killed in the gas chambers at Auschwitz.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA TODAY, 5 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for camp
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'camp.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near camp
Cite this Entry
“Camp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/camp. Accessed 8 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
camp
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a place usually away from cities where tents or buildings are erected for shelter or for living in temporarily
b
: a group of tents, cabins, or huts
c
: a tent or cabin to be lived in temporarily (as during vacation)
d
: a place usually in the country for recreation or instruction often during the summer
summer camp
also
: a program offering access to recreational or educational facilities for a limited period of time
a resort offering boating and hiking camps
computer camp
2
: a body of persons in a camp
camp
2 of 2 verb1
: to make or occupy a camp
2
: to live in a camp or outdoors
camp out overnight
Biographical Definition
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