˜yÐÄvlog

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clap

1

[ klap ]

verb (used with object)

clapped, clapping.
  1. 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.

  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: She clapped her hand over his mouth.

    Can you clap a lid on that jar?

    She clapped her hand over his mouth.

    They clapped him in jail.

  7. 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, clapping.
  1. to clap the hands, as to express approval; applaud:

    After the audience stopped clapping, the tenor sang two encores.

  2. to make an abrupt, sharp sound, as of flat surfaces striking against one another:

    The shutters clapped in the wind.

  3. to move or strike with such a sound:

    She clapped across the room in her slippers.

noun

  1. an act or instance of clapping.
  2. the abrupt, sharp sound produced by clapping.
  3. a resounding blow; slap.
  4. a loud and abrupt or explosive noise, as of thunder.
  5. a sudden stroke, blow, or act.
  6. Printing. clapper ( def 5 ).
  7. Obsolete. a sudden mishap.

verb phrase

  1. Slang. clapback.

clap

2

[ klap ]

noun

Slang: Vulgar.
  1. Often the clap. gonorrhea ( def ).

clap

1

/ °ì±ôæ±è /

verb

  1. to make or cause to make a sharp abrupt sound, as of two nonmetallic objects struck together
  2. to applaud (someone or something) by striking the palms of the hands together sharply
  3. tr to strike (a person) lightly with an open hand, in greeting, encouragement, etc
  4. tr to place or put quickly or forcibly

    they clapped him into jail

  5. (of certain birds) to flap (the wings) noisily
  6. tr; foll by up or together to contrive or put together hastily

    they soon clapped up a shed

  7. clap eyes on informal.
    to catch sight of
  8. clap hold of informal.
    to grasp suddenly or forcibly
“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

noun

  1. the sharp abrupt sound produced by striking the hands together
  2. the act of clapping, esp in applause

    he deserves a good clap

  3. a sudden sharp sound, esp of thunder
  4. a light blow
  5. archaic.
    a sudden action or mishap
“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

2

/ °ì±ôæ±è /

noun

  1. the clap
    a slang word for gonorrhoea
“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
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of clap1

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English clappen, Old English ³¦±ôæ±è±è²¹²Ô; cognate with Middle Low German kleppen

Origin of clap2

First recorded in 1580–90; akin to Middle French clapoir “b³Ü²ú´Ç,†clapier “b°ù´Ç³Ù³ó±ð±ô,†Old Provençal clapier “w²¹°ù°ù±ð²Ôâ€
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of clap1

Old English ³¦±ôæ±è±è²¹²Ô; related to Old High German klepfen, Middle Dutch klape rattle, Dutch klepel clapper; all of imitative origin

Origin of clap2

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

  1. clap hold of, Nautical. to take hold of.
  2. clap eyes on. eye ( def 42 ).
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

And the libertarians — bless their hearts — clap their hands like trained seals, trying to convince themselves this circus is the real deal.

From

When he Mr Hood finally returned to school after his long isolation, pupils lined the driveway and clapped as he walked in with his parents and younger brother.

From

He walked off the court late Saturday clapping his hands over his head while looking at the Bruins cheering section as a thank-you gesture to fans.

From

Sister Jakes said she "cried" the first time she heard people clapping for the NHS.

From

I was laughing hard and clapping my hands.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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