stamp
stamp definition
stamp (stamp)
transitive verb
- to bring (the foot) down forcibly on the ground, a floor, etc.
- to strike down on forcibly with the foot to stamp the floor in anger
- to beat, crush, etc. in a specified way by treading on heavily to stamp the grass down to the earth
- to remove by stamping the foot or feet to stamp the snow from one's boots
- to pulverize (ore, etc.) by grinding or crushing
- to imprint or cut out (a mark, design, lettering, etc.) by bringing a form forcibly against a material to stamp initials in leather
- to cut out, form, or make as by applying a die to metal: often with out to stamp auto bodies
- to impress, mark, or imprint with some design, characters, etc., as to decorate or to show authenticity, ownership, sanction, or the like
- to impress or mark distinctly or indelibly the incident was stamped in her memory
- to put an official seal or a stamp on (a document, letter, etc.)
- to characterize or reveal distinctly, as if by imprinting the courage that stamped him as a hero
Etymology: ME stampen, akin to OHG stampfon < Gmc *stampon, *stampjan, to press to pieces < IE *stembh-, to crush < base *steb(h)-, a post, pole > staff, step, stump
intransitive verb
- to bring the foot down forcibly on the ground, a floor, etc.
- to walk with loud, heavy steps, as in anger, etc.
noun
- the act of stamping
- a machine, tool, etc. used for stamping or crushing ore, etc.
- any tool or implement, as a die, used by being forcibly brought against something to mark or shape it
- a mark or form made by such a tool or implement
- a mark, seal, impression, etc. used to show officially that a tax has been paid, authority given, etc.
- a small piece of paper, distinctively imprinted on the face and usually gummed on the back, issued by a government for a specified price and required to be affixed to a letter, parcel, document, commodity subject to duty, etc. as evidence that the prescribed fee, as for carrying mail, has been paid
- any piece of paper similar to a stamp, issued by an organization, business firm, etc. trading stamps
- any characteristic sign or impression; indication the stamp of truth
- character; kind; class; type
stamp Idioms
stamp out
- to beat, crush, or put out by treading on forcibly to stamp out a fire, a cigarette, etc.
- to crush, suppress, or put down (a revolt, rebellion, etc.)
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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