tamponner

Senses

1. 1.

   to stamp; to imprint a stamp on

   to mark or authenticate with an official stamp or seal

2. 2.

   to collide with; to bump into

   to strike against or crash into (in traffic or accidents)

3. 3.

   to plug; to block

   to stop up or seal an opening (medical/mechanical context)

4. 4.

   to dab; to sponge up

   to touch or wipe gently with an absorbent material

Examples

• "Le douanier a tamponné mon passeport."

  The customs officer stamped my passport.

• "Il a tamponné la voiture devant lui sur l'autoroute."

  He collided with the car in front of him on the highway.

• "Elle a tamponné la plaie avec un coton pour arrêter le saignement."

  She dabbed the wound with cotton to stop the bleeding.

Usage

Common in formal and everyday contexts. The "collision" sense is very frequent in French traffic/accident reporting. The verb is regular and conjugates normally (-er). Note: "tampon" (noun) = stamp, buffer, or absorbent pad, which aids in remembering the verb's meanings.