[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/tamp/)

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# tamp

verb (tamp, tamps, tamped, tamping); usually «tamp down»

«tamp» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To tamp something means to press or pat it down firmly so it is packed tight, such as soil around a plant or coffee in a machine. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamp/#m1)
2. (formal) To tamp down something like feelings or rumours means to try to calm it or reduce it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamp/#m2)

### In the lessons

In gardening, after planting a seedling you tamp down the soil gently so the plant stands firm. Builders tamp down gravel or concrete. In cafés a barista tamps the coffee. In news writing, «to tamp down fears» means to calm worries. Phrases: «tamp down», «tamp the soil», «tamp it firm».

### Examples

- Tamp the soil down around the bean plant with your fingers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamp/#x1)
- The builder tamped the gravel flat before laying the slabs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamp/#x2)
- The barista tamped the coffee into the little metal cup. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamp/#x3)
- Grandad tamped the tobacco into his old pipe. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamp/#x4)
- The head teacher tried to tamp down the rumours about the closure. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamp/#x5)
- After filling the hole, we tamped it down with our boots. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamp/#x6)

### Note

Regular verb: tamped, tamping. Usually with «down». Not to be confused with «stamp» (to bring your foot down hard) or «tamper» (to interfere with something secretly), though a tool for tamping is called a «tamper».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «tamp» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tamp/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«tamp» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tamp.html) on Mova free.