camp
[noun]
Synonyms: camp site, bivouac, camping ground, encampment, tents
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(Informal)
[adjective]
Synonyms: effeminate, affected, artificial, mannered, ostentatious, posturing

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Contrasted words: decamp
Related Idioms: rough it

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. camp¹ S3 W3 /kæmp/ noun
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: Latin campus 'field']

1. IN THE MOUNTAINS/FOREST ETC [uncountable and countable] a place where people stay in tents, shelters etc for a short time, usually in the mountains, a forest etc:
Let’s go back to camp – it’s getting dark.
a camp near Lake Ellen Wilson
The soldiers broke camp (=took down their tents etc) and left before dawn.
pitch/make camp (=set up a tent or shelter)
It was dark by the time we pitched camp.
We set up camp (=made the camping place ready) at nearby Icicle Lake.
The expedition’s base camp (=main camp) was 6,000 feet below the summit.
mining/logging etc camp (=a camp where people stay when they are doing these kinds of jobs)

2. prison/labour/detention etc camp a place where people are kept for a particular reason, when they do not want to be there:
a refugee camp just across the border ⇒ concentration camp

3. FOR CHILDREN [uncountable and countable] a place where young people go to take part in activities, and where they usually stay for several days or weeks:
The camp offers hiking, fishing, canoeing, and boating.
scout camp
Two years ago, she started a summer camp for girls aged eight and older.
tennis/football etc camp (=a camp where you can do one particular activity) ⇒ day camp, holiday camp

4. GROUP OF PEOPLE [countable] a group of people or organizations who have the same ideas or principles, especially in politics:
the extreme right-wing camp of the party
At least Lynne is definitely in your camp (=supports you rather than someone else, and agrees with your ideas). ⇒ have a foot in both camps at foot¹(21)

5. MILITARY [countable] a permanent place where soldiers live or train:
Donny is stationed at Camp Pendleton.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. camp² verb [intransitive]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: camper, from camp; ⇒ camp¹. camp up 1900-2000 From ⇒ camp³]

1. to set up a tent or shelter and stay there for a short time:
We’ll camp by the river for the night, and move on tomorrow.
camping gear/equipment
camping gear such as a sleeping bag, tent, and backpack

2. go camping to visit an area, especially the mountains or a forest, and stay in a tent:
We went camping in the San Bernardino Mountains.
camp out phrasal verb

1. to sleep outdoors, usually in a tent:
What he liked best about scouting was camping out.

2. to stay somewhere where you do not have all the usual things that a house has:
We’ll just have to camp out until our furniture arrives.
camp something up phrasal verb informal
camp it up to deliberately use unnatural body or face movements, in a way that some people think is typical of a homosexual man

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. camp³ adjective
[Date: 1900-2000; Origin: Origin unknown]

1. a man who is camp moves or speaks in the way that people used to think was typical of homosexuals

2. (also campy American English) clothes, decorations etc that are camp are very strange, bright, or unusual

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

camp
noun
I. in tents/huts
ADJ. makeshift, temporary | holiday, summer | base The mountaineers set up their base camp at the foot of the mountain.
transit | gypsy, travellers' | army, military | training
VERB + CAMP make, pitch, set up We pitched camp just outside the woods.
break, strike We broke camp early the next morning.
leave
CAMP + NOUN fire (also campfire) sitting round the campfire
site (also campsite)
PREP. at a/the ~ The children are spending a week at a summer camp.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

camp
II. prison, etc.
ADJ. concentration, detention, internment, labour, prison, prisoner-of-war | death, extermination | refugee the appalling conditions in the refugee camps
PREP. in a/the ~ She spent five years in a labour camp.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

camp
III. group with shared beliefs
ADJ. hostile, opposing, rebel, rival | ideological, political | armed The region split into two armed camps.
VERB + CAMP switch a politician who switches camp when it suits him
divide into, split into
PREP. in a/the ~ people in both main political camps
PHRASES have a foot in both camps (= show loyalty to two different groups) He can unite the party because he has a foot in both camps.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

camp

make/pitch camp (=put up your tents)
We made camp in a clearing in the woods.
set up camp (=put up your tents and arrange the camping place)
The soldiers set up camp outside the city.
break camp (=take down your tents ready to move to a new place)
In the morning it was time to break camp.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

camp
kæmp
See: break camp

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲