stamp
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a small piece of paper you stick on an envelope to show you paid for delivery.
n.a small adhesive piece of paper issued by a postal authority to indicate prepayment of postage.
Simple“Don't forget to put a stamp on the envelope before you drop it in the mailbox.”
In context“The collector spent years searching for a rare Victorian stamp that featured a unique printing error on the queen's profile.”
Synonymspostage stamp - 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a tool used to press a design or words onto a surface, often using ink.
n.an instrument or die used for imprinting a design, mark, or lettering onto a surface.
Simple“The office worker used a rubber stamp to mark the documents as 'received'.”
In context“The notary applied his official stamp to the contract, verifying that the signatures were authentic and legally binding.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the act of bringing your foot down hard and noisily on the ground.
n.a forceful downward thrust of the foot against the ground or another surface.
Simple“With a loud stamp of his foot, the child showed how angry he was.”
In context“The dancer finished the routine with a rhythmic stamp that echoed through the silent theatre.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
v.to bring your foot down hard on the ground, often because you are angry or cold.
v.to strike or beat the ground with the bottom of the foot, often repeatedly or with great force.
Simple“The hikers had to stamp their feet to get the snow off their boots.”
In context“Protesters began to stamp their feet in unison, creating a thunderous noise that could be heard blocks away from the square.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to press a mark or pattern onto something using a tool.
v.to impress or imprint a mark, design, or lettering onto a surface using a specialized tool.
Simple“The passport officer will stamp your book when you enter the country.”
In context“The factory machine can stamp the company logo onto thousands of metal parts every hour.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
n.a slang word for a tattoo on someone's skin.
n.a slang term for a permanent mark or design made on the skin with ink.
Simple“He got a new stamp on his arm to celebrate his graduation.”
In context“She decided to get a small floral stamp on her ankle while she was travelling through Europe.”
From Middle English stampen (“to pound, crush”), from assumed Old English stampian, variant of Old English stempan (“to crush, pound, pound in mortar, stamp”), from Proto-West Germanic stampōn, stampijan, from Proto-Germanic stampōną, stampijaną (“to trample, beat”), from Proto-Indo-European stemb- (“to trample down”). Cognate with Dutch stampen (“to stamp, pitch”), German stampfen (“to stamp”), Danish stampe (“to stamp”), Swedish stampa (“to stomp”), Occitan estampar, Polish stąpać (“to step, treat”). See also stomp, step. Marks indicating that postage had been paid were originally made by stamping the item to be mailed; when affixed pieces of paper were introduced for this purpose, the term “stamp” was transferred to cover this new form.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.