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vamp

verb

  1. to behave seductively; to act as a vamp, to be a vamp
L1422689 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. to pawn
L1422690 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. to provide (a shoe) with a new vamp
  2. to piece (something old) with a new part : patch
  3. to invent, fabricate
L1422691 on Wikidata ↗

noun

  1. a woman who aggressively seduces men, sometimes to exploit or manipulate them
  2. a vampire
L1422692 on Wikidata ↗

noun

  1. front part of a shoe's upper, from instep to toes
  2. a short introductory musical passage often repeated several times (as in vaudeville) before a solo or between verses
  3. something patched up or refurbished
  4. something rehashed, as a book based on old material
L19151 on Wikidata ↗

verb

  1. to walk; to leave
L19152 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /væmp/

noun

Etymology: Uncertain; possibly related to vamp (etymology 1, above): see the 2008 quotation.

  1. A volunteer firefighter.

    John Mackin is one of the old-timers of the new Department. He was a volunteer fireman as well, […] John Mackin was among the number of "old vamps" who made application to the first Board of Fire Commissioners for appointment in the Paid Department.

    The vamps had to carry their equipment to the fire on foot!

verb

Etymology: Clipping of vampire. From a character type developed first for silent film, notably for Theda Bara's role in the 1915 film A Fool There Was. The verb is derived from the noun.

  1. To seduce or exploit someone.

    We want a musical-comedy star to vamp a Senator or a member of the Cabinet; we want the protective tariff revised up or down because of an actress' whim; we want scarlet scandal in high life. And we are not likely to get them.

    "People who lose all their charity generally lose all their logic," remarked Father Brown. "It's rather ridiculous to complain that she keeps to herself; and then accuse her of vamping the whole male population."

  2. To turn (someone) into a vampire.

    If I knew what I know now before I got vamped, I'd do the same thing.

    Astonishing how few peasants and regular people got vamped back in the olden days, when it wasn't regulated.

  3. To cosplay a vampire.

    I'm planning to vamp real hard at Friday night's party.