clap
1to 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.
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.
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.
clap back, Slang. See entry at clapback.
Idioms about clap
clap eyes on. eye (def. 42).
clap hold of, Nautical. to take hold of.
Origin of clap
1Other definitions for clap (2 of 2)
Origin of clap
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use clap in a sentence
But while the outing had a potential to win a standing ovation, it concluded to polite golf claps.
Lady Gaga Disappoints on ‘Saturday Night Live’ (But She Tried Hard) | Kevin Fallon | November 17, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTWe sometimes go to ball games together, Tom and I, and the active duty military stand up and everybody claps, which is nice.
The choir sang traditional hymns punctuated with claps and the ululating tribal cries of celebration.
Everyone claps and hugs—another show executed without a hitch.
They found that he was already a suspect in the disappearance of another woman: Elisa Claps.
He claps on his bowler-hat, gives another amazed look round, says with a shrug, "Unusual!"
First Plays | A. A. MilneThe words, fraught with so much sorrow, sounded like claps of thunder in his ears.
Patchwork | Anna Balmer MyersAfter a turn around the room the leader stops and claps his hands.
The Complete Bachelor | Walter GermainOn the top of the clock is an image of a cock, which twice in the day cries aloud, and claps his wings.
The Book of Curiosities | I. PlattsGradually I grew calmer—after that fearful crash the thunder claps seemed to grow less violent.
Grandmother Dear | Mrs. Molesworth
British Dictionary definitions for clap (1 of 2)
/ (klæp) /
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 forcibly: they clapped him into jail
(of certain birds) to flap (the wings) noisily
(tr; foll by up or together) to contrive or put together hastily: they soon clapped up a shed
clap eyes on informal to catch sight of
clap hold of informal to grasp suddenly or forcibly
the sharp abrupt sound produced by striking the hands together
the act of clapping, esp in applause: he deserves a good clap
a sudden sharp sound, esp of thunder
a light blow
archaic a sudden action or mishap
Origin of clap
1British Dictionary definitions for clap (2 of 2)
/ (klæp) /
the clap a slang word for gonorrhoea
Origin of clap
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse