clap Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a sudden very loud noise
bam; bang; blast; eruption.
noun a common venereal disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae; symptoms are painful urination and pain around the urethra
gonorrhoea; gonorrhea.
noun a sharp abrupt noise as if two objects hit together; may be repeated
clack.
verb put quickly or forcibly
- The judge clapped him in jail
verb cause to strike the air in flight
- The big bird clapped its wings
verb clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval
applaud; acclaim; spat.
verb clap one's hands together
spat.
- The children were clapping to the music
verb strike the air in flight
- the wings of the birds clapped loudly
verb strike with the flat of the hand; usually in a friendly way, as in encouragement or greeting
verb strike together so as to produce a sharp percussive noise
- clap two boards together

AS. clappan; akin to Icel. & Sw. klappa, D, klappen, to clap, prate, G. klaffen, v.i., to split open, yelp, klopfen, v.t. & i., to knock.

imperfect & past participle Clapped ; present participle & verbal noun Clapping

To strike; to slap; to strike, or strike together, with a quick motion, so, as to make a sharp noise; as, to clap one's hands; a clapping of wings.
Then like a bird it sits and sings, And whets and claps its silver wings. Marvell.
To thrust, drive, put, or close, in a hasty or abrupt manner; -- often followed by to, into, on, or upon.
He had just time to get in and clap to the door. Locke

Clap an extinguaisher upon your irony. Lamb.
To manifest approbation of, by striking the hands together; to applaud; as, to clap a performance. Shak. (b) To express contempt or derision. Obs. Lam. ii. 15.

To knock, as at a door. Obs. Chaucer.
To strike the hands together in applause.
Their ladies bid them clap. Shak.
To come together suddenly with noise.
The doors around me clapped. Dryden.
To enter with alacrity and briskness; -- with to or into. Obs. "Shall we clap into it roundly, without . . . saying we are hoarse?" Shak.
To talk noisily; to chatter loudly. Obs. Chaucer.

A loud noise made by sudden collision; a bang. "Give the door such a clap, as you go out, as will shake the whole room." Swift.
A burst of sound; a sudden explosion.
Horrible claps of thunder. Hakewill.
A single, sudden act or motion; a stroke; a blow.
What, fifty of my followers at a clap! Shak.
A striking of hands to express approbation.
Unextrected claps or hisses. Addison.
Noisy talk; chatter. Obs. Chaucer.
(Falconry) The nether part of the beak of a hawk.