noun
temp
tehmp
noun
1
A person hired to work somewhere for a short, fixed period rather than permanently.
"The agency sent over a temp to cover reception while the usual receptionist was on leave."
2
Informal short form of "temperature."
"The nurse took his temp before the doctor came in."
verb
1
To work as a temporary employee.
"She temped in offices around the city while looking for a permanent job."
How to Use Temp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCasual short word for either a short-term worker or a temperature reading.
Common pairings
work as a temp
take someone's temp
Word Forms
temped past tense, temped past tense, temps plural, temps singular, temps singular
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The agency sent over a _____ to cover reception while the usual receptionist was on leave.
Etymology
A clipping of "temporary" (for the job sense) and of "temperature" (for the measurement sense).