clap

[klap]

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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: to clap a lid on a jar; She clapped her hand over his mouth. They clapped him in jail.

to make or arrange hastily (often followed by up or together).

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.

Idioms

clap eyes on. eye(def 42).

clap hold of, Nautical. to take hold of.

Origin of clap

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for clapping

cheer, pat, bang, slap, approve, acclaim, thwack, whack, praise

Examples from the Web for clapping

Contemporary Examples of clapping

There was the obvious sight gags of Valerie not realizing who everyone was clapping for, when the party was clapping for her.
‘The Comeback’ Finale: Give Lisa Kudrow All of the Awards
Kevin Fallon
December 29, 2014
I always tried to get into the spirit of things with dancing, clapping, and singing out in the pews.
What Paul Ryan Gets Right About Race
Ron Christie
August 21, 2014
Get involved in the action by standing up and clapping when an athlete deserves it.
6 Ways to Avoid ‘Sochi Gut’ While Watching the Olympics
Jenna A. Bell
February 12, 2014
So instead of clapping, if people liked a performance they were supposed to snap their fingers.
The Real Life of Llewyn Davis
Nicholas Mancusi
November 7, 2013
The crowds along the procession route are clapping as the car passes.
Live Blogging Thatcher’s London Funeral
Tom Sykes
April 17, 2013

Historical Examples of clapping

"Oh, it's just like a pink story," she cried, clapping her hands.
The Little Colonel
Annie Fellows Johnston
The sails had fallen off and they were flapping and thumping and clapping in the wind.
Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates
Howard Pyle
"I think you are in love," said the host, clapping him on the back.
Night and Morning, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
He was clapping his hands silently and laughing quietly, but still he was laughing.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
Laughter and clapping of hands and acclamations again arose.
Fruitfulness
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for clapping

clap

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

clap

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

Word Origin and History for clapping

clap

Old English clæppan "to throb, beat," common West Germanic, echoic (cf. Old Frisian klapa "to beat," Old Norse klappa, Old High German klaphon, German klappen, Old Saxon klapunga). Meaning "to strike or knock" is from c.1300. Meaning "to make a sharp noise" is late 14c. Of hands, to beat them together to get attention or express joy, from late 14c. To clap (someone) on the back is from 1520s. Related: Clapped; clapping.

clap

n.2

"gonorrhea," 1580s, of unknown origin, perhaps from Middle English clapper "rabbit-hole," from Old French clapoire (Modern French clapier), originally "rabbit burrow" (of uncertain origin), but given a slang extension to "brothel" and also the name of a disease of some sort. In English originally also a verb, "to infect with clap." Related: Clap-doctor.

clap

n.1

"loud noise," c.1200, from clap (v.). Of thunder, late 14c. Meaning "sudden blow" is from c.1400; meaning "noise made by slapping the palms of the hands together" is from 1590s.

clapping in Medicine

clap

[klăp]

n.

Gonorrhea. Often used with the.