camp
/kæmp/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈæmp] /kæmp/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈæmp] /ˈkamp/ (ame, mw)
camp — noun
- campsingular
- campsplural
1. an outdoor living area with tents or simple shelters where people stay for a sho
an outdoor living area with tents or simple shelters where people stay for a short time.
Our guide chose a dry camp beside the river before sunset.
camp + beside + place
The hikers returned to camp after the storm soaked their jackets.
return to camp
A small family camp stood under the pines near the beach.
We broke camp early and reached the village by noon.
- campsite
usually the exact spot chosen for tents
- encampment
more formal and often larger in scale
文法句型
at camp
set up camp
break camp
用法筆記
Often used without an article in phrases like 'make camp', 'set up camp', and 'break camp'.
2. a site used to hold or shelter people for a limited time because of war, punishm
a site used to hold or shelter people for a limited time because of war, punishment, or some other official reason.
The family spent three months in a refugee camp near the border.
refugee camp
Reporters were denied entry to the prison camp after the riot.
prison camp
Aid trucks arrived at the camp with blankets and bottled water.
The government closed the detention camp before winter began.
- compound
emphasises the enclosed physical area
- detention centre
more official and modern in tone
文法句型
refugee camp
prison camp
detention camp
用法筆記
Usually refers to a controlled place created by a government, army, or aid organisation, not an ordinary holiday camp.
3. the area where troops live while training or during military operations.
the area where troops live while training or during military operations.
Young soldiers marched back to camp after the night exercise.
back to camp
Smoke drifted above the army camp as cooks made breakfast.
army camp
The general inspected every tent in camp before dawn.
Two nurses opened a clinic inside the military camp.
文法句型
army camp
military camp
in camp
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense strongly suggests soldiers and military organisation.
4. one side in a political argument, public debate, or competition, together with t
one side in a political argument, public debate, or competition, together with the people on it.
The reform camp won most student votes in the union election.
the + adjective + camp
Within the party, the older camp opposed any tax increase.
Fans in our camp cheered when the captain scored first.
After the debate, three ministers moved into the prime minister's camp.
- opposition
the group taking the other side in a political setting
文法句型
the reform camp
move into + someone's camp
用法筆記
Often used for politics, public arguments, or rival teams. The sense is about shared opinion or allegiance, not a physical place.
5. all the people staying in the same camp, viewed as one group.
all the people staying in the same camp, viewed as one group.
By dawn, the whole camp was awake and lining up for tea.
the whole camp
News of the rescue spread quickly through the camp.
through the camp
The camp cheered when the doctor returned with medicine.
After supper, the camp gathered around one fire to sing.
文法句型
the whole camp
through the camp
用法筆記
This sense treats the people in the camp as a single community. Distinguish from sense 1, which names the place itself.
6. a programme or place, often in the holidays, where children or teenagers do orga
a programme or place, often in the holidays, where children or teenagers do organised activities and sleep or spend the day away from home.
Mina made her closest friends at art camp last summer.
art camp
The school runs a science camp for twelve-year-olds each July.
science camp
Parents visited the mountain camp on the final Sunday.
At day camp, the children learned to paddle and cook outdoors.
- camp programme
explicitly stresses the organised schedule
- retreat
broader and often for adults rather than children
文法句型
summer camp
day camp
science camp
用法筆記
Commonly appears with a type word before it, such as 'summer', 'art', 'science', or 'day'.
常見錯誤
7. a deliberately flashy, artificial, or tasteless style that becomes amusing or en
a deliberately flashy, artificial, or tasteless style that becomes amusing or enjoyable because it is so exaggerated.
The director filled the video with glitter, fake tears, and pure camp.
pure camp
Critics loved the film's mix of horror and camp.
Her drag show balanced sincerity with just enough camp.
The costume party leaned into camp instead of elegant realism.
- kitsch
focuses more on cheap or sentimental taste than on performance
- theatricality
broader and not always humorous
- restraint
suggests controlled style rather than exaggeration
文法句型
pure camp
a touch of camp
用法筆記
Used in discussions of fashion, film, theatre, and pop culture. The point is usually playful exaggeration, not simply bad taste.
camp — verb
- camppresent simple I / you / we / they
- camps3rd person singular
- camping-ing form
- campedpast simple
1. to live outside for a short period in a tent or another temporary shelter.
to live outside for a short period in a tent or another temporary shelter.
We camped beside the lake and cooked noodles over a small stove.
camp + beside + place
Three cyclists camp near the stadium whenever they visit the city.
Last spring, our class camped on an island with no cars.
The couple camped in the rain and laughed through the thunder.
文法句型
camp + by/in/near + place
camp overnight
用法筆記
Usually takes a place phrase after it, such as 'by the lake' or 'in the forest'.
常見錯誤
2. to place people in a camp, or to arrange temporary shelters together in one area
to place people in a camp, or to arrange temporary shelters together in one area.
Refugee families were camped on high ground after the flood.
passive: be camped + place
The army camped two hundred recruits outside the port before dawn.
camp + people + place
Aid workers camped the displaced villagers beside the school gym.
Festival organizers camped volunteers near the stadium to save travel time.
文法句型
be camped + place
camp + person + place
用法筆記
Much less common than sense 1. It often appears in passive sentences about groups being housed temporarily.
3. to act in an intentionally exaggerated, artificial way for comic or theatrical e
to act in an intentionally exaggerated, artificial way for comic or theatrical effect.
The actor camped shamelessly through the final courtroom scene.
camp + adverb
For the holiday special, the host camped every entrance with slow bows.
camp + role/scene
The director asked Bao to camp the villain until the audience laughed.
Their parody song camped the wedding scene with glitter and fake sobs.
- underplay
to perform in a restrained way
文法句型
camp + adverb
camp + role/scene
用法筆記
Mostly used in reviews or performance talk. It suggests deliberate exaggeration rather than accidental silliness.
camp — adjective
- camppositive
- campercomparative
- campestsuperlative
1. If a man seems camp, his clothes or behaviour fit a stereotype that some people
If a man seems camp, his clothes or behaviour fit a stereotype that some people connect with gay men.
Some viewers called the singer camp because of his glitter suit.
called + person + camp
In the old comedy, the prince's camp manner feels intentionally teasing.
camp + manner
The magazine labelled Leo camp, but many readers disliked the stereotype.
His camp hand waves drew louder laughs than the joke itself.
- effeminate
more formal and usually more strongly judgmental
- flamboyant
broader; not necessarily tied to gender stereotypes
文法句型
seem/look camp
camp + manner/voice
用法筆記
This word can sound old-fashioned or judgmental because it depends on a stereotype. Use it carefully when describing people.
2. showing a deliberately exaggerated, bright, or artificial style that is funny or
showing a deliberately exaggerated, bright, or artificial style that is funny or enjoyable.
The musical ends with a camp parade of silver capes and roses.
camp + performance noun
Her Halloween posters looked camp on purpose, with glitter bats everywhere.
look camp
The designer chose a camp pink sofa for the photo booth.
Even the sad ballad turned camp under the singer's fake sighs.
- kitsch
often more focused on cheap taste than on playful performance
- theatrical
broader and not always humorous
- understated
quiet and controlled in style
文法句型
camp + noun
deliberately camp
用法筆記
Used mainly for art, fashion, performance, and design. The effect is intentionally over-the-top rather than simply childish or messy.