clap

¹

[ klap ]

verb (used with object)

, clapped, clap·ping.

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, clap·ping.

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

/ klæp /

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

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

clap

²

/ klæp /

noun

1. the clap
   a slang word for gonorrhoea

Word History and Origins

Origin of clap¹

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

Origin of clap²

First recorded in 1580–90; akin to Middle French clapoir “bubo,” clapier “brothel,” Old Provençal clapier “warren”

Word History and Origins

Origin of clap¹

Old English clæppan; 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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

Example Sentences

The comedian was met with claps and laughs from the crowd.

From Salon

Biles seemed to clap back at the time with a post shared to social platform Threads, writing, "Not everyone needs a mic and a platform."

From Salon

As a teenager, anxious about three or five pounds, I jogged in place during those last minutes, sometimes tearing up, sometimes clapping.

From Salon

Using her arms as a makeshift clapboard, a Sudanese woman in a black hijab and black-and-white caftan clapped her hands together, signaling the beginning of the rehearsal.

From New York Times

He called out routines; the skaters behind him clapped and matched cross slides to the pounding beat.

From New York Times