Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Clap

//klæp// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun

1
The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together.
"He summoned the waiter with a clap."
2
Gonorrhea. slang, usually, with-definite-article
"With the mischiefe of the melt and maw, / The clape and the canker,—"
3
a sudden very loud noise wordnet
4
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."
5
a sharp abrupt noise as if two objects hit together; may be repeated wordnet

Show 6 more definitions

6
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."
7
a common venereal disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae; symptoms are painful urination and pain around the urethra wordnet
8
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."
9
A single, sudden act or motion; a stroke; a blow.
"What, fifty of my followers at a clap!"
10
The nether part of the beak of a hawk.
11
A dropping of cow dung (presumably from the sound made as it hits the ground) Yorkshire
"“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

1
To strike the palms of the hands together, creating a sharp sound. intransitive
"The children began to clap in time with the music."
2
clap one's hands together wordnet
3
To applaud. transitive
"The audience loudly clapped the actress, who responded with a deep curtsey."
4
clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval wordnet
5
To slap with the hand in a jovial manner. transitive
"He would often clap his teammates on the back for encouragement."

Show 12 more definitions

6
strike together so as to produce a sharp percussive noise wordnet
7
To bring two surfaces together forcefully, creating a sharp sound. ambitransitive
"He clapped the empty glass down on the table."
8
strike with the flat of the hand; usually in a friendly way, as in encouragement or greeting wordnet
9
To slam (a door or window); formerly often construed with to. obsolete
"Hostesse clap to the doores."
10
put quickly or forcibly wordnet
11
To create or assemble (something) hastily (usually followed by up or together). transitive
"We should clap together a shelter before nightfall."
12
strike the air in flight wordnet
13
To set or put, usually in haste. transitive
"The sheriff clapped him in jail."
14
cause to strike the air in flight wordnet
15
To shoot (somebody) with a gun. slang
16
To defeat. broadly, slang, transitive
"He started a fight but then got clapped immediately."
17
To have sex, fornicate, copulate. slang

Etymology

Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

Etymology 3

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.

Next best steps

Find stronger synonyms See usage examples Check pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: clap