Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

clap

 - 9 dictionary results
Clap
Learn More About Clap Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Tests
AARP.org

clap

1  [klap] verb clapped, clap⋅ping, noun
Use clap in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to strike the palms of (one's hands) against one another resoundingly, and usually repeatedly, esp. to express approval: She clapped her hands in appreciation.
2. to strike (someone) amicably with a light, open-handed slap, as in greeting, encouragement, or the like: He clapped his friend on the back.
3. 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.
4. to bring together forcefully (facing surfaces of the same object): She clapped the book shut.
5. to applaud (a performance, speech, speaker, etc.) by clapping the hands: The audience clapped the actors at the end of the act.
6. 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.
7. to make or arrange hastily (often fol. by up or together).
–verb (used without object)
8. to clap the hands, as to express approval; applaud: After the audience stopped clapping, the tenor sang two encores.
9. to make an abrupt, sharp sound, as of flat surfaces striking against one another: The shutters clapped in the wind.
10. to move or strike with such a sound: She clapped across the room in her slippers.
–noun
11. an act or instance of clapping.
12. the abrupt, sharp sound produced by clapping.
13. a resounding blow; slap.
14. a loud and abrupt or explosive noise, as of thunder.
15. a sudden stroke, blow, or act.
16. Printing. clapper (def. 5).
17. Obsolete. a sudden mishap.
—Idioms
18. clap eyes on. eye (def. 42).
19. clap hold of, Nautical. to take hold of.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME clappen, OE clæppan; c. MLG kleppen
Clap
Learn More About Clap Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Tests
AARP.org

clap

2  [klap]
–noun Slang: Vulgar.
gonorrhea (often prec. by the).
Origin:
1580–90; akin to MF clapoir bubo, clapier brothel, OPr clapier warren
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To clap
clap 1   (klāp)   
v.   clapped, clap·ping, claps

v.   intr.

  1. To strike the palms of the hands together with a sudden explosive sound, as in applauding.

  2. To come together suddenly with a sharp sound.

v.   tr.

  1. To strike together with a sharp sound, as one hard surface on another: clapped a book on the desk.

  2. To strike (the hands) together with an abrupt, loud sound, usually repeatedly: clapped hands in time to the music.

  3. To strike lightly but firmly with the open hand, as in greeting: clapped me on the shoulder.

  4. To put or place quickly and firmly: clapped the purse snatcher in jail; clapped a lid on the box.

  5. To arrange hastily: clapped together a plan.

n.  

  1. The act or sound of clapping the hands.

  2. A sudden, loud, explosive sound: a clap of thunder.

  3. A sharp blow with the open hand; a slap.

  4. Obsolete A sudden stroke of fortune, especially of bad luck.


[Middle English clappen, from Old English clæppan, clappian, to throb, and from Old Norse klappa, to clap, pat.]
clap 2   (klāp)   
n.   Vulgar Slang
Gonorrhea. Often used with the.

[Probably from obsolete French clapoir, bubo, from Old French clapier, brothel, from Old Provençal, rabbit warren, from clap, heap of stones, perhaps of Celtic origin.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
clap

  1. n.
    a case of gonorrhea. (Very old and still in use.) : He thinks he got the clap from her.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

clap  (v.)
O.E. clæppan "to throb, beat," echoic. Of thunder, c.1386. Clapper "tongue of a bell" is from 1379. Claptrap is c.1730 theater slang from actors' stage devices to get applause.

clap  (n.)
"gonorrhea," 1587, of unknown origin, perhaps from M.E. claper, from O.Fr. clapoire, originally "rabbit burrow" but given a slang extension to "brothel." Originally also a v., "to infect with clap."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: clap
Pronunciation: 'klap
Function: noun
: GONORRHEA —often usedwith the
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

clap (klāp)
n.
Gonorrhea. Often used with the.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see clap on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way