clap
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clap¹
- /klæp/
Rhymes with -æp
Where it comes from
From Middle English clappen, from Old English clæppan, *clappian, from Proto-West Germanic *klappijan, *klappōn, from Proto-Germanic *klappōną (“to clap”). Cognate with Dutch klappen, Icelandic klappa, Faroese klappa and Danish klappe.
noun claps
- The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together. He summoned the waiter with a clap.
-
The explosive sound of thunder.
The deafening claps of thunder and the dazzling flashes of lightning which lit up the ghastly scene testified that the artillery of heaven had lent its supernatural pomp to the already gruesome spectacle.
Similar: thunderclap
- Any loud, sudden, explosive sound made by striking hard surfaces together, or resembling such a sound. Off in the distance, he heard the clap of thunder.
- A slap with the hand, usually in a jovial manner. His father's affection never went further than a handshake or a clap on the shoulder.
- A single, sudden act or motion; a stroke; a blow. What, fifty of my followers at a clap!
- The nether part of the beak of a hawk.
- A dropping of cow dung (presumably from the sound made as it hits the ground) “Oh! get some coo clap (cow dung), mix it wi’ fish oil (whale oil), put it on, and let it stop on all neet.”
verb claps · clapping · clapped · clapt
- To strike the palms of the hands together, creating a sharp sound. The children began to clap in time with the music.
-
To applaud.
The audience loudly clapped the actress, who responded with a deep curtsey.
Similar: acclaim, applaud, hurrah, acclamate, hail, barrack, beclap, cheer, cheer on, clap, encheer, hurray
- To slap with the hand in a jovial manner. He would often clap his teammates on the back for encouragement.
- To bring two surfaces together forcefully, creating a sharp sound. He clapped the empty glass down on the table.
- To slam (a door or window); formerly often construed with to. Hostesse clap to the doores.
- To create or assemble (something) hastily (usually followed by up or together). We should clap together a shelter before nightfall.
- To set or put, usually in haste. The sheriff clapped him in jail.
- To shoot (somebody) with a gun.
- To defeat. He started a fight but then got clapped immediately.
- To have sex, fornicate, copulate.
clap²
- /klæp/
Rhymes with -æp
Where it comes from
Uncertain. Probably from Old French clapoir (“bubo, inflammation from infection”), from clapier (“brothel”).
May also be from old, unsafe treatments for gonorrhea, such as clapping the penis between a book and a hard surface to break up obstructions in the urethra and permit urination. Attested from the 16th century.
noun
-
Synonym of gonorrhea.
With the mischiefe of the melt and maw,
The clape and the canker,—
Similar: gonorrhea
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: bang, blowup, acclaim, applaud, blast, gonorrhoea, eruption, gonorrhea, spat, loud noise, applause, knock, hit, cheer, mark, drip
Translations
Every language
noun The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together
| Español | palma, aplauso, plauso, palmeo, palmoteo |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 박수 baksu |
| 日本語 | 手拍子 te-byōshi, 拍手 hakushu |
| Português | palma |
| Deutsch | Klatschen |
| Italiano | battere, pacca |
| Русский | хлопо́к xlopók |
| العربية | تَصْفِيق taṣfīq |
| עברית | מְחִיאַת כַּף meẖiát kaf |
verb intransitive: to strike the palms of the hands together
| Español | dar palmas, palmear, palmotear |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 박수를 치다 baksu-reul chida |
| 日本語 | 手を叩く te wo tataku |
| Português | bater palmas |
| Deutsch | klatschen |
| Русский | хло́пать xlópatʹ, хло́пнуть xlópnutʹ |
| العربية | صَفَّق ṣaffaq |
| עברית | כַּף מָחָא maẖá kaf |
verb transitive: to applaud by clapping the hands
| Español | aplaudir, batir palmas, dar palmas, hacer palmas, ovacionar |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 拍手する hakushu suru |
| 中文 | 拍手 pāishǒu, 鼓掌 gǔzhǎng |
| हिन्दी | ताली बजाना tālī bajānā |
| Português | aplaudir |
| Français | applaudir |
| Deutsch | klatschen, applaudieren |
| Italiano | applaudire |
| Ελληνικά | χειροκροτώ cheirokrotó |
| Русский | аплоди́ровать aplodírovatʹ, хло́пать xlópatʹ |
| العربية | صَفَّقَ ṣaffaqa |
| עברית | מחא כפיים makhá kapayim |
verb To bring two surfaces together forcefully, creating a sharp sound
| Deutsch | knallen |
|---|---|
| Русский | хло́пать xlópatʹ, хло́пнуть xlópnutʹ |
verb To create or assemble (something) hastily
| Deutsch | improvisieren, zusammenbasteln |
|---|
noun gonorrhea
| Español | purgaciones |
|---|---|
| Français | chtouille, chaude-pisse |
| Deutsch | Tripper |
| Italiano | scolo |
| Русский | гоноре́я gonoréja |
Talk about this word "clap." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/clap. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. clap. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/clap "clap." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/clap.Cite this
@misc{clap_2026,
title = {clap},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/clap},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
