clap
Pronunciation: (klap), [key]
— v. n. clapped, clap•ping,
—v.t.
- 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.
- 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: to clap a lid on a jar; She clapped her hand over his mouth. They clapped him in jail.
- to make or arrange hastily (often fol. by up or together).
—v.i.
- 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.
- See(def. 38).
- to take hold of.
—n.
- 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.
- clapper (def. 5).
- 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.