clap

Universal Words verb, noun verb (-pp-) 1 to hit your open hands together several times to show that you approve of or have enjoyed sth: [V] The audience cheered and clapped. * [VN] Everyone clapped us when we went up to get our prize. 2 ~ (your hands) to hit your open hands together: [VN] She clapped her hands in delight. * He clapped his hands for silence. * [V] Everyone clapped in time to the music. 3 [VN] ~ sb on the back / shoulder to lightly hit sb with your open hand, usually in a friendly way 4 [VN+adv./prep.] to put sth/sb somewhere quickly and suddenly: 'Oh dear!' she cried, clapping a hand over her mouth. * to clap sb in irons / jail / prison * In the old days they would have clapped you in jail for that. IDIOMS see EYEn. noun 1 [sing.] an act of clapping the hands; the sound this makes: Give him a clap! (= to praise sb at the end of a performance) 2 [C] a sudden loud noise: a clap of thunder 3 (also the clap) [U] (slang) a disease of the sexual organs, caught by having sex with an infected person SYNGONORRHOEA