clap
clap
/klæp/
1 intransitive, transitive to hit your open hands together several times to show that you approve of or have enjoyed something The audience cheered and clapped.
clap for somebody/something After she performed, Ariana stood up and clapped for her.
clap somebody/something Everyone clapped us when we went up to get our prize.
Collocations
adverb
phrases
clap and cheer
Everyone clapped in time to the music.
clap your hands She clapped her hands in delight.
He clapped his hands for silence.
3 transitive clap somebody on the back/shoulder to lightly hit somebody with your open hand, usually in a friendly way ‘Cheer up, Tony,’ I said, and clapped him on the shoulder.
4 transitive clap something/somebody + adv./prep. to put something/somebody somewhere quickly and suddenly ‘Oh dear!’ she cried, clapping a hand over her mouth.
to clap somebody in irons/jail/prison
In the old days they would have clapped you in jail for that.
Idioms
Word Origin
verb Old English clappan ‘throb, beat’, of imitative origin. Sense (1) dates from late Middle English.