stamp

I. verb Etymology: Middle English; akin to Old High German stampfōn to stamp and perhaps to Greek stembein to shake up Date: 13th century transitive verb 1. to pound or crush with a pestle or a heavy instrument 2. a. (1) to strike or beat forcibly with the bottom of the foot (2) to bring down (the foot) forcibly b. to extinguish or destroy by or as if by stamping with the foot — usually used with out <

stamp out cancer

> 3. a. impress, imprint <

stamp “paid” on the bill

> b. to attach a stamp to 4. to cut out, bend, or form with a stamp or die 5. a. to provide with a distinctive character <

stamped with a dreary, institutionalized look — Bernard Taper

> b. characterize <

stamped as honest women — W. M. Thackeray

> intransitive verb 1. pound 1 2. to strike or thrust the foot forcibly or noisily downward II. noun Date: 15th century 1. a device or instrument for stamping 2. the impression or mark made by stamping or imprinting 3. a. a distinctive character, indication, or mark b. a lasting imprint 4. the act of stamping 5. a stamped or printed paper affixed in evidence that a tax has been paid; also postage stamp • stampless adjective