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Added 9 October 2026

clap

/klæp/ noun

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about clap at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

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.
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.

verb

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.
To slap with the hand in a jovial manner.
He would often clap his teammates on the back for encouragement.

noun

Synonym of gonorrhea.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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