camp
camp
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "camp" is /kæmp/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
camp:
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/m/ - bilabial nasal
/p/ - voiceless bilabial stop
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: camp
Plural: camps
Verb:
Base form: camp
Third-person singular present: camps
Past tense: camped
Present participle: camping
Past participle: camped
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A temporary settlement or collection of tents, huts, or other shelters, typically used by travelers, soldiers, or people on vacation.
Synonyms: encampment, bivouac, cantonment, settlement
Antonyms: city, metropolis, permanent residence, urban area
A group of people sharing a common interest, belief, or purpose, often with a distinct set of attitudes or behaviors.
Synonyms: faction, bloc, party, clique, coterie
Antonyms: individual, outsider, opposition (in some contexts)
Verb
To set up a temporary dwelling, especially a tent or simple shelter, and stay there for a period of time, often for recreation or as a temporary residence.
Synonyms: bivouac, pitch, encamp, sojourn, lodge
Antonyms: depart, leave, vacate, move out
To establish oneself or operate in a particular area or position, often with the intention of staying there for a prolonged period, sometimes to gain an advantage.
Synonyms: settle, reside, station, establish, entrench
Antonyms: abandon, relocate, withdraw, retreat
Examples of Use
Books:
"They arrived at the designated camp just as dusk began to settle, the air crisp with the scent of pine and woodsmoke." (From Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer)
"The novel explores the psychological impact of the concentration camp experience on its survivors." (Referring to Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl)
Newspapers:
"Humanitarian organizations are working to provide aid to the refugee camp on the border." ( The Guardian)
"The political camp supporting the new infrastructure bill gained momentum after a series of public debates." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"For many, the idea of a summer camp conjures images of bonfires and shared stories under the stars." (NPR.org)
"The article delves into the history of 'queer camp' aesthetics in film and fashion." (Vogue.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the movie Moonrise Kingdom, a central plot point revolves around two children running away from a scouting camp.
Television: "Survivor" often features contestants living in a basic camp setup, utilizing natural resources.
Music: The song "Campfire Song" by SpongeBob SquarePants (from the show SpongeBob SquarePants) describes activities around a campfire.
Video Games: Many open-world video games, like Red Dead Redemption 2, allow players to set up a temporary camp for resting and crafting.
Social Media: A social media post might read: "Just got back from a fantastic weekend camping trip with friends! #nature #adventure"
General Public Discourse:
"Are you planning to camp out for tickets to the concert?" (A friend asking another)
"The opposition camp is very vocal about their disagreements with the proposed policy." (A news commentator discussing politics)
"The children are excited to go to summer camp next month." (A parent talking about their child's activities)
10 Quotes Using Camp
"There's a place where we are told to camp, and it's there that we must pitch our tent." (Mother Teresa)
"The most important thing to remember is that you can always go back to camp." (M. K. Soni)
"I was forced to go to a concentration camp by the Nazis, but I never gave up hope." (Anne Frank)
"They made a desert and called it peace. They made a concentration camp and called it freedom." (T. S. Eliot, adapted from Tacitus)
"A man should keep his friendships in constant repair, and his camp in constant order." (Samuel Johnson)
"When you are in a survival situation, the first thing you want to do is to establish a base camp." (Bear Grylls)
"We didn't go to camp to sit around, we went to camp to win." (Kobe Bryant)
"My whole life has been a long preparation for a long camp." (Jack Kerouac)
"The way you camp is the way you live." (Unknown)
"Let us camp for a while in the country of silence." (Khalil Gibran)
Etymology
The word "camp" has a fascinating history with a few different roots that eventually led to its modern meanings.
One of the oldest roots of "camp" goes back to the Latin word "campus," which simply meant "open field" or "level space." This is where we get words like "campus" (as in a university campus) today.
This Latin "campus" was adopted into various European languages. In French, it became "camp," and this is where our English word "camp" largely comes from.
The first known use of "camp" in English, in the sense of a temporary lodging for an army, dates back to the 1520s. So, its original meaning was strongly tied to military use – a place where soldiers would set up their tents and stay for a period of time. Think of it as a temporary military base in the field.
Over time, this military meaning expanded. By the mid-1550s, "camp" started to be used for any temporary dwelling, not just for armies, like for travelers or even for pleasure. This is how we get the idea of "camping" for recreation today.
Separately, there's a more recent and distinct origin for the "camp" that refers to a style or aesthetic – something that is exaggerated, theatrical, or over-the-top, often with a playful or ironic twist. This sense of "camp" is thought to have emerged from French slang, possibly from "se camper," meaning "to strike a pose boldly or provocatively." This usage became associated with LGBTQ+ culture in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with earlier uses of related words like "campish" appearing in letters as early as the 1860s. However, its dictionary definition for this specific aesthetic sense only appeared around 1909.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Camp
Break camp: To pack up and leave a temporary camp.
Decamp from: To depart suddenly or secretly from a place, often a camp.
Camp out: To stay overnight in a tent or other temporary shelter.
Camp it up: To behave in an exaggerated or theatrical manner; to play to the audience in a "camp" style.
To camp on someone's doorstep: To wait persistently or harassingly for someone.
Camp follower: A civilian who follows an army or a military camp, providing services.
Happy camper: A person who is satisfied and content (often used ironically in the negative, e.g., "not a happy camper").
In one's camp: Supporting one's side or viewpoint.
Camp-meeting: A religious gathering held outdoors or in a tent, lasting several days.
Survival camp: A training program or facility focused on teaching wilderness survival skills.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of camp from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
