camp
camp — noun
1. an outdoor spot with tents or simple shelters that people use as a temporary hom
an outdoor spot with tents or simple shelters that people use as a temporary home for a short period, typically for leisure or during a trip
The scout troop set up their camp near a small lake in the forest.
collocation: set up camp
We stayed at a beach camp with wooden cabins and a shared kitchen.
uncountable: at camp
Priya helped her brothers pack the tent and sleeping bags for their weekend camp.
A camp for hikers sits at the mountain base with fresh water and fire pits.
The village built a camp for volunteers who came to rebuild the school.
- campsite
specifically the piece of ground where you pitch a tent, rather than the whole facility
- encampment
more formal or literary; often suggests a larger or more organised group of shelters
文法句型
at camp
in camp
用法筆記
Can be countable (a camp / camps) or uncountable (at camp / in camp). Uncountable use is common after prepositions: 'We stayed in camp all week.'
常見錯誤
2. a fenced area with basic shelters that holds people for a length of time, often
a fenced area with basic shelters that holds people for a length of time, often set up by a government during conflicts or as a form of punishment
The UN sent food and medicine to the refugee camp near the border.
collocation: refugee camp
Thousands live in the camp, waiting to move to a safer country.
Yara's grandfather was in a labour camp during the war and rarely spoke of it.
Doctors Without Borders runs a medical clinic inside the camp for displaced people.
Conditions in the prison camp were harsh, with little food and no medical care.
文法句型
in a camp
at a camp
用法筆記
Usually countable and often preceded by a modifier such as 'refugee', 'labour', 'prison', or 'detention'. The noun alone ('a camp') may be ambiguous; the modifier is needed to make the type clear.
常見錯誤
3. temporary housing for troops who are doing military exercises or engaged in comb
temporary housing for troops who are doing military exercises or engaged in combat, usually made of tents or simple structures
The soldiers marched back to camp after a long day of training exercises.
uncountable: back to camp
General Okonkwo ordered the troops to set up a forward camp near the river crossing.
Rashida's father sends a letter home from the military camp every Sunday.
Life in camp during peacetime involves drills, equipment checks, and physical fitness.
The enemy attacked the camp at dawn, catching the guards by surprise.
文法句型
in camp
at camp
用法筆記
Uncountable use is common after prepositions ('in camp', 'to camp', 'at camp') when referring to camp life generally rather than a specific camp facility.
4. people united by a shared position on an issue, particularly in politics, who te
people united by a shared position on an issue, particularly in politics, who tend to hold that view as a group
The liberal camp strongly opposed the new tax bill in parliament.
modifier + camp for political group
Within the party, two camps have formed over how to handle climate policy.
The camp that favours stricter gun laws is growing larger every year.
Opinion is split between the camp for reform and the camp for the current system.
Theo finds himself in the camp of those who believe climate action is urgent.
文法句型
the [adjective] camp
camp of [opinion]
用法筆記
Nearly always takes a modifier (e.g., 'liberal camp', 'conservative camp') or a relative clause ('the camp that…'). The modifier tells the reader which position the group supports.
常見錯誤
5. a holiday programme for young people that includes sports, crafts, and other gro
a holiday programme for young people that includes sports, crafts, and other group activities, usually held during the summer break and often involving overnight stays
Leila is going to a music camp for two weeks this July.
The children spent their summer at a beach camp, learning to swim and sail.
uncountable: at camp
Hana made her closest friends at a sleepaway camp when she was nine years old.
Day camp is cheaper than overnight camp and lets kids come home each evening.
The camp leader blew a whistle to call everyone to the dining hall for lunch.
- summer programme
broader term that may include non-overnight activities without the traditional camp setting
文法句型
at camp
go to camp
summer camp
用法筆記
Uncountable ('at camp', 'go to camp') is very common in American English to refer to the general experience. Countable ('a camp') refers to a specific facility or programme. This sense is more common in American English than British English.
常見錯誤
camp — verb
1. to sleep in a tent or similar shelter outdoors for a short time, usually as a ho
to sleep in a tent or similar shelter outdoors for a short time, usually as a holiday activity
The Kim family likes to camp by the river every summer.
We camped near a waterfall during our trip through the national park.
camped + location phrase
Ravi and his friends plan to camp on the beach this weekend.
Have you ever camped in the mountains when it snowed at night?
The children learned how to camp safely during their scout training.
- go camping
the most common everyday phrase for the activity
文法句型
camp + preposition phrase
go camping
用法筆記
The related phrase 'go camping' is more common in everyday speech (e.g., 'We went camping last weekend'). The bare verb 'camp' is more common in narratives and plans.
常見錯誤
2. to arrange tents or simple housing for a group of people, or to settle people in
to arrange tents or simple housing for a group of people, or to settle people in such structures in a particular location
The rescue team camped the volunteers in a field near the damaged village.
transitive: camped + people + location
The soldiers were camped along the ridge for three weeks.
passive: were camped
The organisers camped the hikers in groups of ten near the trailhead.
We camped our tents in a circle to block the wind.
The refugees were camped in temporary shelters outside the city.
- set up camp
more specific to the act of pitching tents
- encamp
formal or military; often implies a larger, more organised group
文法句型
camp [+ object]
camp somebody + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
The transitive use ('They camped the troops in the valley') is less common than the intransitive use. The passive form ('be camped') is frequent in narratives to describe where people are situated.
camp — adjective
1. describes a man whose way of moving, speaking, or dressing is seen as exaggerate
describes a man whose way of moving, speaking, or dressing is seen as exaggeratedly feminine and associated with stereotypes of gay men
The actor's camp mannerisms on stage drew both laughter and applause.
camp + noun (mannerisms)
People used to call his flamboyant clothing camp, but now it is seen as fashionable.
Diego delivered his lines with a camp flourish that made the audience smile.
Some critics described the character as too camp to be taken seriously.
The comedian's camp style was popular in the 1990s but later felt dated.
- flamboyant
broader; can describe anyone who is confidently showy, not specifically linked to gay stereotypes
- effeminate
describes mannerisms seen as feminine; more neutral but can carry negative judgment
文法句型
camp + noun
be + camp
用法筆記
This sense can be offensive depending on context and intent. It describes a perceived style, not a person's identity. When referring to a person rather than behaviour, 'camp' may be considered a stereotype.
常見錯誤
2. deliberately artificial, exaggerated, or bad in a way that is amusing and stylis
deliberately artificial, exaggerated, or bad in a way that is amusing and stylish — used to describe art, fashion, film, or behaviour that is so over-the-top it becomes entertaining
The film's camp costumes and bright sets made it a cult favourite.
camp + noun (costumes)
Nadia loves decorating her apartment with camp furniture from the 1970s.
The party had a camp theme with glitter, inflatable props, and over-the-top music.
Some people find the painting beautifully camp, while others think it is just ugly.
The director's camp approach to horror turns scary moments into funny scenes.
- campy
informal; essentially synonymous but slightly more colloquial
- kitsch
tacky or sentimental art; similar but kitsch lacks the self-aware, deliberate exaggeration of camp
- over-the-top
more general; describes any excessive style without the specific camp aesthetic
文法句型
camp + noun
be + camp
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense is usually positive or playful. It describes a deliberate aesthetic choice. 'Camp' as an aesthetic was famously analysed by Susan Sontag in her 1964 essay 'Notes on Camp'.