# tent

/ˈtɛnt/ (US) · /tˈɛnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tent
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. portable shelter

noun · CEFR A2

a shelter made of cloth or canvas that you sleep in when you go camping.

For teachers: a portable shelter consisting of fabric stretched over a supporting frame of poles and ropes.

- We spent the afternoon putting up our tent before it started to rain.
- The hikers struggled to secure their tent against the gale-force winds that swept across the ridge during the night.

### 2. medical plug

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small piece of soft material used by doctors to keep a wound or opening open.

For teachers: a cylindrical or conical plug of absorbent material used to dilate a canal or keep a wound open for drainage.

- The surgeon used a small tent to ensure the wound could drain properly.
- A laminaria tent is frequently employed in obstetric procedures to achieve gradual cervical dilation over several hours.

### 3. to cover food

verb · CEFR B2

to cover food loosely with foil in a shape like a roof to keep it moist while cooking.

For teachers: to cover food loosely with aluminium foil, shaped into a peak, to retain heat or moisture without touching the surface.

- Tent the turkey with foil so the meat stays juicy while it roasts.
- After removing the roast from the oven, tent it with foil and allow it to rest for twenty minutes to let the juices redistribute.

### 4. to go camping

verb · CEFR B1

to live or sleep in a tent while on holiday.

For teachers: to lodge in a tent or to go camping; often used as an intransitive verb.

- We decided to tent near the lake instead of staying in a hotel.
- The expedition members were forced to tent on the glacier for three days while they waited for the visibility to improve.

## Examples

- We slept in a small tent during our camping trip.
- The hikers spent the afternoon setting up their tent before the rain started to fall.
- Modern lightweight materials allow backpackers to carry a durable tent that provides essential protection from the elements without adding significant weight to their packs.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.