tramp

UK: /ˈtræmp/ US: /træmp/ ,(tramp)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tramp /træmp/   v. 

1. to walk with a firm, heavy step (on or through);
   march;
   trudge: [no object]
   soldiers tramping through the streets.
   [~ + object]
   to tramp the streets.
2. to walk steadily:
   [no object] He tramped through the streets looking for a job.

n. [countable]

3. the act of tramping:
   [usually singular] the tramp of the soldiers.
4. one who travels about on foot, living on occasional jobs or gifts of money or food.
5. Sex and Gender a woman regarded as behaving immorally, esp. a prostitute.
6. Nautical, Naval Terms a freight vessel that does not run regularly between fixed ports.

tramp•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tramp  (tramp), v.i. 

1. to tread or walk with a firm, heavy, resounding step.
2. to tread heavily or trample (usually fol. by on or upon):
   to tramp on a person's toes.
3. to walk steadily;
   march;
   trudge.
4. to go on a walking excursion or expedition;
   hike.
5. to go about as a vagabond or tramp.
6. to make a voyage on a tramp steamer.

v.t. 

7. to tramp or walk heavily or steadily through or over.
8. to traverse on foot:
   to tramp the streets.
9. to tread or trample underfoot:
   to tramp grapes.
10. to travel over as a tramp.
11. to run (a ship) as a tramp steamer.

n. 

12. the act of tramping.
13. a firm, heavy, resounding tread.
14. the sound made by such a tread.
15. a long, steady walk;
    trudge.
16. a walking excursion or expedition;
    hike.
17. a person who travels on foot from place to place, esp. a vagabond living on occasional jobs or gifts of money or food.
18. a sexually promiscuous woman;
    prostitute.
19. a freight vessel that does not run regularly between fixed ports, but takes a cargo wherever shippers desire. Cf. cargo liner.
20. a piece of iron affixed to the sole of a shoe.

• 1350–1400; Middle English trampen to stamp; cognate with Low German trampen; akin to Gothic ana-trimpan to press hard upon. See traipse, trample

tramp ′er, n. 
tramp ′ish, adj. 
tramp ′ish•ly, adv. 
tramp ′ish•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 17. vagrant, bum, hobo.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tramp / træmp/ verb

1. (intransitive) to walk long and far; hike
2. to walk heavily or firmly across or through (a place); march or trudge
3. (intransitive) to wander about as a vagabond or tramp
4. (transitive) to make (a journey) or traverse (a place) on foot, esp laboriously or wearily
5. (transitive) to tread or trample

noun

1. a person who travels about on foot, usually with no permanent home, living by begging or doing casual work
2. a long hard walk; hike
3. a heavy or rhythmic step or tread
4. the sound of heavy treading
5. Also called: tramp steamer a merchant ship that does not run between ports on a regular schedule but carries cargo wherever the shippers desire
6. a prostitute or promiscuous girl or woman

Etymology: 14th Century: probably from Middle Low German trampen; compare Gothic ana-trimpan to press heavily upon, German trampen to hitchhike

ˈtrampish adjective