clap

[ klap ]

/ klæp /

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See synonyms for: clap / clapping on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), clapped, clap·ping.

to strike the palms of (one's hands) against one another resoundingly, and usually repeatedly, especially to express approval: She clapped her hands in appreciation.

to strike (someone) amicably with a light, open-handed slap, as in greeting, encouragement, or the like:He clapped his friend on the back.

to strike (an object) against something quickly and forcefully, producing an abrupt, sharp sound, or a series of such sounds: to clap a book on the table.

to bring together forcefully (facing surfaces of the same object): She clapped the book shut.

to applaud (a performance, speech, speaker, etc.) by clapping the hands: The audience clapped the actors at the end of the act.

to put or place quickly or forcefully: Can you clap a lid on that jar? She clapped her hand over his mouth.They clapped him in jail.

to make or arrange hastily (often followed by together or up): He clapped together dinner from stuff in the pantry and leftovers from the fridge.

verb (used without object), clapped, clap·ping.

to clap the hands, as to express approval; applaud: After the audience stopped clapping, the tenor sang two encores.

to make an abrupt, sharp sound, as of flat surfaces striking against one another: The shutters clapped in the wind.

to move or strike with such a sound: She clapped across the room in her slippers.

noun

an act or instance of clapping.

the abrupt, sharp sound produced by clapping.

a resounding blow; slap.

a loud and abrupt or explosive noise, as of thunder.

a sudden stroke, blow, or act.

Printing. clapper (def. 5).

Obsolete. a sudden mishap.

Verb Phrases

clap back, Slang. See entry at clapback.

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Idioms about clap

clap eyes on. eye (def. 42).

clap hold of, Nautical. to take hold of.

Origin of clap

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English clappen, Old English clæppan; cognate with Middle Low German kleppen

Other definitions for clap (2 of 2)

clap²

[ klap ]

/ klæp /

noun Slang: Vulgar.

Often the clap . gonorrhea.

Origin of clap

First recorded in 1580–90; akin to Middle French clapoir “bubo,” clapier “brothel,” Old Provençal clapier “warren”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use clap in a sentence

Sometimes he punctuates his moves with a clap drawn from some folk dance.
I dare you to not be moved by Another Round, an existentialist film about day drinking|Alissa Wilkinson|December 18, 2020|Vox
For all its epochal-sounding significance, no magnificent sonic clap accompanies the achievement of “quantum supremacy.”
Google and China duke it out over ‘quantum supremacy’|rhhackettfortune|December 8, 2020|Fortune
On Earth, shock waves cause the sonic boom of a supersonic jet, the clap of thunder in a storm and the damaging pressure wave that can shatter windows in the aftermath of a massive explosion.
Giant lasers help re-create supernovas’ explosive, mysterious physics|Emily Conover|November 12, 2020|Science News
Guilavogui clapped his empty hands together and went up to the street to fold the newspaper dispensers up by the subway entrance.
From Ebola Country to NYC’s Subways|Michael Daly|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

We laughed and whooped and clapped and danced and hugged each other.
Visiting the Arctic Circle…Before It’s Irreversibly Changed|Terry Greene Sterling|April 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The standing-room-only audience swayed and clapped and danced.
Jon Batiste, a Thrilling Jazz Pianist Whose First Goal Is to Entertain|Howard Wolfson|February 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ringo clapped; Yoko flashed peace signs; Steven Tyler tumbled for ya; Beyoncé shimmied; and Katy Perry threw “Roar” punches.
The Grammys Train Wreck: An Insult to Lou Reed, Hip-Hop, and Good Taste|Marlow Stern|January 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The audience inside the theater shrieked and sometimes clapped.
‘Texas Chainsaw 3D’ and Hollywood’s Gore Obsession|Ramin Setoodeh|January 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He burst into a loud laugh, clapped his hands, and danced before the delighted babe.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
Bob, the boy who had bought Squinty, the comical pig, laughed and clapped his hands.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
Then he clapped his fiddle under his chin and without more ado struck up "Bobbing Joan."
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Georgie handed the paper to her cousin, the latter clapped her hands with glee.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Lucy clapped her hands with delight, her more staid cousin was rapt in pleased astonishment.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills

British Dictionary definitions for clap (1 of 2)

clap¹

/ (klæp) /

verb claps, clapping or clapped

to make or cause to make a sharp abrupt sound, as of two nonmetallic objects struck together

to applaud (someone or something) by striking the palms of the hands together sharply

(tr) to strike (a person) lightly with an open hand, in greeting, encouragement, etc

(tr) to place or put quickly or forciblythey clapped him into jail

(of certain birds) to flap (the wings) noisily

(tr; foll by up or together) to contrive or put together hastilythey soon clapped up a shed

clap eyes on informal to catch sight of

clap hold of informal to grasp suddenly or forcibly

noun

the sharp abrupt sound produced by striking the hands together

the act of clapping, esp in applausehe deserves a good clap

a sudden sharp sound, esp of thunder

a light blow

archaic a sudden action or mishap

Word Origin for clap

Old English clæppan; related to Old High German klepfen, Middle Dutch klape rattle, Dutch klepel clapper; all of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for clap (2 of 2)

clap²

/ (klæp) /

noun

the clap a slang word for gonorrhoea

Word Origin for clap

C16: from Old French clapoir venereal sore, from clapier brothel, from Old Provençal, from clap heap of stones, of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

clap

Idioms about clap

Origin of clap

Other definitions for clap (2 of 2)

Origin of clap

Words related to clap

How to use clap in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for clap (1 of 2)

Word Origin for clap

British Dictionary definitions for clap (2 of 2)

Word Origin for clap