t noun 1 a place with temporary accommodation of huts, tents, or other structures, typically used by soldiers, refugees, or travelling people.

n a complex of buildings for holiday accommodation, typically with extensive recreational facilities: a summer camp for children. n [MASS NOUN] temporary overnight lodging in tents: they made camp in a pleasant area | we pitched camp at a fine spot. n Archaeology, Brit. a prehistoric enclosed or fortified site, especially an Iron Age hill fort.
2 the supporters of a particular party or doctrine regarded collectively: both the liberal and conservative camps were annoyed by his high-handed manner.

3 S. African a fenced field or enclosed area for grazing.

n Austral./NZ a place where livestock regularly congregate or where a mustered herd is assembled.
4 S. African a short period of annual military service, several of which are usually compulsory after completion of national service.

t verb [no OBJ.] 1 live for a time in a tent or caravan, especially while on holiday: holiday parks in which you can camp or stay in a chalet | [as NOUN] (camping) camping attracts people of all ages.

n lodge temporarily, especially in an inappropriate or uncomfortable place: we camped out for the night in a mission schoolroom. n remain persistently in one place: the press will be camping on your doorstep once they get on to this story.
2 Austral./NZ (of livestock) assemble together for rest.

3 [with OBJ.] S. African divide (land) and enclose with fences.

— PHRASES

break camp take down a tent or the tents of an encampment ready to leave.

—ORIGIN early 16th cent.: from French camp, champ, from Italian campo, from Latin campus ‘level ground’, specifically applied to the Campus Martius in Rome, used for games, athletic practice, and military drill.