What is camp? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of camp in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of camp

campnoun

trại, chỗ cắm trại, cắm trại, hạ trại

/kamp/

Definition & pronunciation of <strong>camp</strong>

Where does the word camp come from?

The word "camp" has its origins in 17th-century Dutch and French. It comes from the Dutch word "kamp," meaning "field" or "countryside," and the French word "camp," meaning "trout" or "woad." The term initially referred to a temporary or seasonal settlement or dwelling, often in a natural setting, such as a field or forest. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the word "camp" was used to describe military encampments, often in the wilderness. The term eventually evolved to encompass other types of temporary or recreational settlements, such as summer camps, scout camps, and LGBTQ+ pride camps. Today, the word "camp" has a broader cultural significance, encompassing themes of escapism, performance, and identity, as seen in the concept of "camp" in art, fashion, and popular culture.

Vocabulary summary camp

typenoun

meaningcamp, campsite, camping

exampleto go camping

meaning(military) camp, barracks

meaningmilitary life

typeverb

meaningcamp, camping, camping out

exampleto go camping

Example of vocabulary campin tents

meaning

a place where people live temporarily in tents or temporary buildings

  • Let's return to camp.
  • to pitch/set up camp (= put up tents)
  • to break/strike camp (= take down tents)

Example of vocabulary campholiday/vacation

meaning

a place where children go in the summer and take part in sports and other activities

  • a tennis/soccer camp
  • I used to attend a summer music camp for five weeks.
  • He spent two weeks at camp this summer.
  • a camp counsellor (= somebody who works with young people at a summer camp)

Example of vocabulary campprison, etc.

meaning

a place where people are kept in temporary buildings or tents, especially by a government and often for long periods

  • They criticized the appalling conditions in the refugee camps.
  • a detention/an internment camp
  • They were repeatedly beaten by camp guards.

Example of vocabulary camparmy

meaning

a place where soldiers live while they are training or fighting

  • an army camp

Example of vocabulary campgroup of people

meaning

a group of people who have the same ideas about something and oppose people with other ideas

  • the socialist camp
  • We were in opposing camps.
  • The region split into two armed camps.
  • People are split into two camps on this issue.
  • He was a politician who switched camps when it suited him.
meaning

one of the sides in a competition and the people connected with it

  • There was an air of confidence in the England camp.

Synonyms and related words for camp

Idioms of vocabulary camp

have/keep a foot in both camps
to be involved in or connected with two different groups, especially ones that oppose each other

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