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British

claque

[ klak ]

/ klæk /

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noun

a group of persons hired to applaud an act or performer.

a group of sycophants: The agency head was applauded, as always, by a claque of appointees.

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Seinfeld wasn't the first to use a laugh track: It's over 2,000 years old.

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Origin of claque

First recorded in 1860–65; from French, derivative of claquer “to clap”

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH claque

claque , clique

Words nearby claque

clap skate, clapt, Clapton, Clapton's line, claptrap, claque, claqueur, clar., Clara, clarabella, Clarabelle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for claque

In contrast, the clerisy has little needed for the basically educated, but only an approving claque and faithful servants.
The Last Patrician: Romney Falls From Favor as America Loses Faith in Old Money|Joel Kotkin|January 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
To save the banking system, Greenspan, along with a claque of Republicans like Lindsey Graham, now endorses nationalization.
The Naked Truth|Tina Brown|February 18, 2009|DAILY BEAST
When Madame la Marchale has finished her run, will the claque be re-admitted to start a new piece?
Punch, or The London Charivari, Vol. 101, August 15, 1891|Various
The dbutante was received politely but cordially—an indication that there was not a strong claque, which was a relief.
The Mapleson Memoirs, vol II|James H. Mapleson

Patti is not one of them—who carry with them on their foreign tours a chef de claque as a member of their ordinary suite.
The Mapleson Memoirs, vol II|James H. Mapleson
Lem Perry, the leader of the claque, had a somewhat set speech, being uninventive in the construction of new phrases.
Roads of Destiny|O. Henry
A claque of his supporters replied with feigned enthusiasm, but a malcontent at Alices side rose and stamped to the door.
The Half-Hearted|John Buchan

British Dictionary definitions for claque

claque

/ (klæk) /

noun

a group of people hired to applaud

a group of fawning admirers

Word Origin for claque

C19: from French, from claquer to clap, of imitative 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