clap
verb/klæp/
/klæp/
Verb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they clap | /klæp/ /klæp/ |
| he / she / it claps | /klæps/ /klæps/ |
| past simple clapped | /klæpt/ /klæpt/ |
| past participle clapped | /klæpt/ /klæpt/ |
| -ing form clapping | /ˈklæpɪŋ/ /ˈklæpɪŋ/ |
- [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.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- enthusiastically
- excitedly
- loudly
- …
- clap and cheer
Definitions on the go
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- [intransitive, transitive] to hit your open hands together
- Everyone clapped in time to the music.
- clap your hands She clapped her hands in delight.
- He clapped his hands for silence.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- enthusiastically
- excitedly
- loudly
- …
- clap and cheer
- [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.
- [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.
Word Originverb Old English clappan ‘throb, beat’, of imitative origin. Sense (1) dates from late Middle English.
Idioms
See clap in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionaryclap/lay/set eyes on somebody/something
- (informal) (usually used in negative sentences) to see somebody/something
- I haven't clapped eyes on them for weeks.
- I hope I never set eyes on this place again!
- Tom fell in love the moment he laid eyes on her.
Check pronunciation:
clap