clap
Third Person
claps
Present Participle
clapping
Past Tense
clapped
Past Participle
clapped
1
to strike the palms of one's hands together forcefully, usually to show appreciation or to attract attention
- The audience clapped enthusiastically after the concert.
- Children clapped with glee as the magician pulled a rabbit out of the hat.
- The students clapped in rhythm to the music during the school assembly.
- The spectators clapped and cheered as the marathon runners crossed the finish line.
- Guests clapped politely at the end of the speech.
Synonyms:
2
to place or position something quickly, forcefully, or abruptly
transitive
- He clapped the book on the table and rushed out of the room.
- The chef clapped the ingredients into the pot, eager to start cooking.
- The stagehand clapped the props onto the stage, preparing for the next scene.
- She clapped the papers into a folder and handed them to her colleague.
3
(of birds) to flap their wings audibly
transitive
- The seagulls clapped their wings as they soared above the ocean waves.
- The ducks clapped their wings excitedly as they landed on the calm pond.
- The eagle clapped its wings mightily, lifting off from its perch on the cliff.
- The parrot clapped its wings twice before settling down on its perch.
- From the treetops, the colorful toucans could be seen clapping their wings in the jungle.
4
to give a firm and friendly pat or slap on someone's back or shoulder as a sign of encouragement or congratulations
transitive
- After scoring the winning goal, his teammates clapped him on the back.
- The coach clapped each player on the shoulder as they walked off the field.
- She clapped her friend on the back to congratulate her on the promotion.
- The father proudly clapped his son on the back after he gave a heartfelt speech.
- The coach clapped the swimmer on the shoulder after she won the race.
5
to defeat someone, especially in a game or competitive setting
- Don't try him; he'll clap you fast.
- They clapped the enemy team in under five minutes.
- She got clapped during the tournament.
- I nearly clapped my opponent but missed the final shot.