CLAPPING • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Clapping

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/klˈæpɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Clap v. t. (past & past part. clapped; pres. part. clapping)

1.

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."

2.

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." "Clap an extinguisher upon your irony."

3.

To manifest approbation of, by striking the hands together; to applaud; as, to clap a performance.

To clap hands.

(a)

To pledge faith by joining hands. (Obs.)

(b)

To express contempt or derision. (Obs.)

To clap hold of, to seize roughly or quickly.

To clap up.

(a)

To imprison hastily or without due formality.

(b)

To make or contrive hastily. (Obs.) "Was ever match clapped up so suddenly?"

Clap v. i.

1.

To knock, as at a door. (Obs.)

2.

To strike the hands together in applause. "Their ladies bid them clap."

3.

To come together suddenly with noise. "The doors around me clapped."

4.

To enter with alacrity and briskness; with to or into. (Obs.) "Shall we clap into it roundly, without... saying we are hoarse?"

5.

To talk noisily; to chatter loudly. (Obs.)

See images of 'Clapping'

Etymology of 'Clapping'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Clapping" Quotes from Famous Books

... shocks at Tokio, one sufficiently strong to wake me from sleep. My bed shook violently, and the house threatened to fall upon us. The same night we had a large fire in the city, and a hundred shrill, tinkling bells, like so many cows in the woods, were rung to give the alarm. The clapping of the night watchmen about our street assured me, however, that it was all right with us, and I lay still. The night watchmen here use two small square pieces of hard wood which they strike frequently against each other as they go the rounds as their "All's well" signal; but I think ...

— Round the World • Andrew Carnegie

... and flashes of brilliant light, which the wind could neither make flicker nor extinguish, issued from the lighthouse. It was a noteworthy sight, these sparkling rays, rivalling the brilliancy of the plains, and defining sharply the outlines of the surrounding objects. Johnson could not help clapping his hands. ...

— The Voyages and Adventures of Captain Hatteras • Jules Verne

... light and for other reasons—there are no curtains or blinds to draw down—we were able to go through all Meah Sheorim and stop a minute or two at every lighted window and watch the goings on. We heard nothing but singing and clapping of hands, while the children danced. Sometimes one of the elders looking on could not resist joining in the fun, and tied his kaftan behind his back so as to leave his legs free, put one of the youngsters on his shoulders, and danced like a ...

— Pictures of Jewish Home-Life Fifty Years Ago • Hannah Trager

... caught up in the rear by veterans who have entered every capital in Europe except London, and are echoed from rank to rank. There is a far-extended clapping of hands, like the babble of waves, and companies of foot run in disorder towards high ground to behold the spectacle, waving their shakos ...

— The Dynasts - An Epic-Drama Of The War With Napoleon, In Three Parts, - Nineteen Acts, And One Hundred And Thirty Scenes • Thomas Hardy

... the Sun doth not wait for prayers and incantations to rise, but shines forth and is welcomed by all: so thou also wait not for clapping of hands and shouts and praise to do thy duty; nay, do good of thine own accord, and thou wilt be ...

— The Golden Sayings of Epictetus • Epictetus

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