clap1
• verb (clapped, clapping) 1 strike the palms of (one’s hands) together repeatedly, especially to applaud. 2 slap encouragingly on the back. 3 place (a hand) briefly over one’s face as a gesture of dismay. 4 (of a bird) flap (its wings) audibly. • noun 1 an act of clapping. 2 an explosive sound, especially of thunder. — PHRASES clap in jail (or irons) put in prison (or in chains). — ORIGIN Old English, throb, beat .
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