Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Approval expressed especially by the clapping of hands.
  • noun Praise; commendation.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To applaud; approve.
  • noun A manifestation of approval by sound; enthusiastic approbation expressed by clapping the hands, acclamation, huzzas, or other means of demonstration; popular laudation.
  • noun Any expression of approbation, appreciation, or delight; commendation; encouragement; approval.
  • noun An object of approval. B. Jonson.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The act of applauding; approbation and praise publicly expressed by clapping the hands, stamping or tapping with the feet, acclamation, huzzas, or other means; marked commendation.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The act of applauding; approbation and praise publicly expressed by the clapping of hands, stamping or tapping of the feet, acclamation, huzzas, or other means; marked commendation.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a demonstration of approval by clapping the hands together

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Medieval Latin applausus, from past participle of Latin applaudere, to applaud; see applaud.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From the Latin applausus, from applaudō ("I strike against”, “I applaud") (whence the English verb applaud).

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