---
title: tamp — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tamp» in the school dictionary: To tamp something means to press or pat it down firmly so it is packed tight, such as soil around a plant or coffee in a machine. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# tamp

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** builder, barista, Grandad, head teacher, we · **What happens:** tamp, mean, press, pat down, pack, tamp down · **To what, where:** something, it, gravel, slabs, coffee, little metal cup · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«tamp» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [tamp in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tamp.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To tamp something means to press or pat it down firmly so it is packed tight, such as soil around a plant or coffee in a machine.

<!-- fold The tree, 27 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamp:m1:1
# text = To tamp something means to press or pat it down firmly so it is packed tight, such as soil around a plant or coffee in a machine.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	tamp	tamp	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	csubj	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	press	press	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	pat	pat	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	conj	_	_
9	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	_
10	down	down	ADP	RP	_	8	compound:prt	_	_
11	firmly	firmly	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
12	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
13	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj:pass	_	_
14	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux:pass	_	_
15	packed	pack	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	advcl	_	_
16	tight	tight	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	20	punct	_	_
18	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	20	case	_	_
19	as	as	ADP	IN	_	18	fixed	_	_
20	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obl	_	_
21	around	around	ADP	IN	_	23	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
23	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	nmod	_	_
24	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	25	cc	_	_
25	coffee	coffee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	23	conj	_	_
26	in	in	ADP	IN	_	28	case	_	_
27	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
29	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tamp** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn hit-18.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **press** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn push-12-1-1 «NP V PP»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **pat down** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  | firmly *property* | vn touch-20-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |
| 5 | **pack** | present · passive |  | it |  |  |  | such soil around a plant or coffee in a machine; tight *property* | vn spray-9.7-1-1 «NP V NP.theme»: subject=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To tamp down something like feelings or rumours means to try to calm it or reduce it.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamp:m2:1
# text = To tamp down something like feelings or rumours means to try to calm it or reduce it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	tamp	tamp	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	csubj	_	_
3	down	down	ADP	RP	_	2	compound:prt	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	feelings	feeling	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nmod	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	rumours	rumour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	conj	_	_
9	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	11	mark	_	_
11	try	try	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	ccomp	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	calm	calm	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	xcomp	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	obj	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	reduce	reduce	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	conj	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tamp down** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | like feelings or rumours | vn hit-18.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **try** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 4 | **calm** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus it=Experiencer |
| 5 | **reduce** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  |  | vn limit-76 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer it=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tamp the soil down around the bean plant with your fingers.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamp:x1:1
# text = Tamp the soil down around the bean plant with your fingers.
1	Tamp	tamp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	soil	soil	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
4	down	down	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
5	around	around	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	bean	bean	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	fingers	finger	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The builder tamped the gravel flat before laying the slabs.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamp:x2:1
# text = The builder tamped the gravel flat before laying the slabs.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	builder	builder	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tamped	tamp	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	gravel	gravel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	flat	flat	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
7	before	before	SCONJ	IN	_	8	mark	_	_
8	laying	lay	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	slabs	slab	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tamp** | past | the builder | the gravel |  |  |  | flat *property* | vn hit-18.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent gravel=Patient |
| 2 | **lay** | gerund | the builder *not said here* | the slabs |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent slab=Result |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The barista tamped the coffee into the little metal cup.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamp:x3:1
# text = The barista tamped the coffee into the little metal cup.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	barista	barista	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tamped	tamp	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	coffee	coffee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	into	into	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
8	little	little	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
9	metal	metal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	cup	cup	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tamp** | past | the barista | the coffee |  |  |  | into the little metal cup *result* | vn hit-18.1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent coffee=Patient into cup=Result |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandad tamped the tobacco into his old pipe.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamp:x4:1
# text = Grandad tamped the tobacco into his old pipe.
1	Grandad	Grandad	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	tamped	tamp	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	tobacco	tobacco	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	pipe	pipe	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tamp** | past | Grandad | the tobacco |  |  |  | into Grandad's old pipe *result* | vn hit-18.1 «NP V NP PP.result»: agent=Agent tobacco=Patient into pipe=Result |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The head teacher tried to tamp down the rumours about the closure.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamp:x5:1
# text = The head teacher tried to tamp down the rumours about the closure.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	tamp	tamp	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	down	down	ADP	RP	_	6	compound:prt	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	rumours	rumour	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
10	about	about	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	closure	closure	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | the head teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **tamp down** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the head teacher *not said here* | the rumours |  |  |  | about the closure | vn hit-18.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent rumour=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
After filling the hole, we tamped it down with our boots.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tamp:x6:1
# text = After filling the hole, we tamped it down with our boots.
1	After	after	SCONJ	IN	_	2	mark	_	_
2	filling	fill	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	hole	hole	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
6	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	tamped	tamp	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	down	down	ADP	RP	_	7	compound:prt	_	_
10	with	with	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	boots	boot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fill** | gerund | we *not said here* | the hole |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent hole=Patient |
| 2 | **tamp down** | past | we | hole |  |  |  | with our boots | vn hit-18.1 «NP V NP PP.instrument»: agent=Agent it=Patient with boot=Instrument |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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