stamps

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Small pieces of printed paper that you stick on mail to show that postage has been paid.

   Grammar: This is the plural form; the singular is 'stamp'. Use 'a stamp' for one and 'stamps' for two or more.

   Patterns

   • a book of stamps
   • collect stamps
   • put stamps on something

   I need to buy some stamps before I post these letters.

   She keeps all her old stamps in a small album.

   The price of stamps went up again this year.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitive

   Presses a foot down hard and noisily, or hits something with force.

   Grammar: Can be used with an object ('stamp the ground') or without one ('He stamped in anger'). Often followed by 'on'.

   Patterns

   • stamp on something
   • stamp your foot
   • stamp something down

   The children stamped their feet to keep warm.

   He stamped on the spider without thinking.

   She stamped the snow off her boots at the door.

3. 3verbtransitive

   Marks a document or object with an official design or words using a tool or machine.

   Grammar: Takes an object: stamp a passport. Often used in the passive: the form was stamped.

   Patterns

   • stamp something with something
   • stamp a passport
   • be stamped with something

   The clerk stamped my passport at the border.

   All the boxes were stamped with the company name.

   The date is stamped on every page of the document.

4. 4nouncountable

   A tool or machine that presses a design or mark onto paper or other surfaces.

   Grammar: Countable: one stamp, two stamps. Usually refers to a physical object.

   Patterns

   • a rubber stamp
   • a date stamp
   • use a stamp

   The office uses a rubber stamp for incoming mail.

   He pressed the date stamp onto the form.

   The stamp left a clear red mark on the page.

5. 5nounsingularformalliterary

   A particular quality or character that marks something as typical of a person or group.

   Grammar: Usually singular and used with 'of': the stamp of genius. Formal or literary in this sense.

   Patterns

   • the stamp of something
   • bear the stamp of something

   Her early work bears the stamp of her teacher's influence.

   The film has the stamp of a true master.

Word forms

Common combinations

postage stamp

He collects rare postage stamps from the 19th century.

stamp collection

Her grandfather left her a valuable stamp collection.

stamp duty

You must pay stamp duty when you buy a house.

stamp out

The government is trying to stamp out corruption.

food stamps

Some families rely on food stamps to buy groceries.

stamp of approval

The plan finally got the manager's stamp of approval.

Synonyms and how they differ

seal

A seal is a sticky label or wax mark that closes or authenticates something, while a stamp is usually a printed paper showing postage was paid.

imprint

An imprint is a mark left by pressure; a stamp can be the tool that makes such a mark or the mark itself.

trample

Trample means to crush by walking heavily, often over something; stamp is more about the loud, forceful downward movement of the foot.

Word family

stampede noun

A sudden panicked rush of a crowd or herd.

stamper noun

A person or tool that stamps something.

stamping noun

The act or sound of pressing down with the foot or a tool.

Commonly confused: stamps or stomp? stamps or stampede?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “stamps”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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