Dictionary
clap
Pronunciation: (klap), [key]
—v. clapped, clap•ping,
—n.
—
v.t.
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).
—
v.i.
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.
4. clap eyes on. See
eye (def. 38).
5. clap hold of, Naut.to take hold of.
—
n.
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. Print.clapper (def. 5).
7. Obs.a sudden mishap.
clap
Pronunciation: (klap), [key]—
n. Slang (vulgar).
gonorrhea (often prec. by
the).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
