VAMP

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does vamp mean? 

• VAMP (noun)
  The noun VAMP has 3 senses:

1. a seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men

2. an improvised musical accompaniment

3. piece of leather forming the front part of the upper of a shoe

  Familiarity information: VAMP used as a noun is uncommon.

• VAMP (verb)
  The verb VAMP has 4 senses:

1. make up

2. piece (something old) with a new part

3. act seductively with (someone)

4. provide (a shoe) with a new vamp

  Familiarity information: VAMP used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VAMP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

coquette; flirt; minx; prickteaser; tease; vamp; vamper

Hypernyms ("vamp" is a kind of...):

adult female; woman (an adult female person (as opposed to a man))

Derivation:

vamp (act seductively with (someone))

Sense 2

Meaning:

An improvised musical accompaniment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("vamp" is a kind of...):

accompaniment; backup; musical accompaniment; support (a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical parts)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Piece of leather forming the front part of the upper of a shoe

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("vamp" is a kind of...):

piece of leather (a separate part consisting of leather)

Holonyms ("vamp" is a part of...):

upper (piece of leather or synthetic material that forms the part of a shoe or boot above the sole that encases the foot)

Derivation:

vamp (provide (a shoe) with a new vamp)

• VAMP (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they vamp    ... he / she / it vamps   
Past simple: vamped   
Past participle: vamped   
-ing form: vamping   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make up

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

vamp; vamp up

Context example:

vamp up an excuse for not attending the meeting

Hypernyms (to "vamp" is one way to...):

cook up; fabricate; invent; make up; manufacture (concoct something artificial or untrue)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Piece (something old) with a new part

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

vamp; vamp up

Context example:

vamp up an old speech

Hypernyms (to "vamp" is one way to...):

patch; piece (to join or unite the pieces of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Act seductively with (someone)

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "vamp" is one way to...):

butterfly; chat up; coquet; coquette; dally; flirt; mash; philander; romance (talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

vamp; vamper (a seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Provide (a shoe) with a new vamp

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

revamp; vamp

Context example:

revamp my old boots

Hypernyms (to "vamp" is one way to...):

bushel; doctor; fix; furbish up; mend; repair; restore; touch on (restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

vamp (piece of leather forming the front part of the upper of a shoe)

 Context examples 

Second one vamped up for the occasion.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)