stamp: Meaning and Definition of

stamp

Pronunciation: (stamp), [key]
— v.t.
  1. to strike or beat with a forcible, downward thrust of the foot.
  2. to bring (the foot) down forcibly or smartly on the ground, floor, etc.
  3. to extinguish, crush, etc., by striking with a forcible downward thrust of the foot (fol. by out): to stamp out a fire.
  4. to suppress or quell (a rebellion, uprising, etc.) quickly through the use of overwhelming force (usually fol. by out).
  5. to crush or pound with or as with a pestle.
  6. to impress with a particular mark or device, as to indicate genuineness, approval, or ownership: to stamp a document with a seal.
  7. to mark or impress with a design, word, mark, etc.: Age stamped his face with lines.
  8. to impress (a design, word, mark, etc.) on: to stamp one's initials on a document.
  9. to affix a postage stamp to (a letter, envelope, etc.).
  10. to characterize, distinguish, or reveal: His ingenuity with words stamped him as a potential poet.
—v.i.
  1. to bring the foot down forcibly or smartly, as in crushing something, expressing rage, etc.
  2. to walk with forcible or heavy, resounding steps: He stamped out of the room in anger.
—n.
  1. See
  2. an act or instance of stamping.
  3. a die or block for impressing or imprinting.
  4. a design or legend made with such a die or block.
  5. an official mark indicating genuineness, validity, etc., or payment of a duty or charge.
  6. a peculiar or distinctive impression or mark: a great man who left his stamp on legal procedure.
  7. character, kind, or type: a woman of serious stamp.
  8. an official seal or device appearing on a business or legal document to show that a tax has been paid.
  9. Also calledsuch a device, often similar to a postage stamp, issued by a private organization to show that the charges for mail carrying have been paid.
  10. See
  11. See
  12. an instrument for stamping, crushing, or pounding.
  13. a heavy piece of iron or the like, as in a stamp mill, for crushing ore or other material.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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