Clap v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clapped p. pr. & vb. n. Clapping.]
 1. To strike; to slap; to strike, or strike together, with a quick motion, so, as to make a sharp noise; as, to clap one's hands; a clapping of wings.
 Then like a bird it sits and sings,
 And whets and claps its silver wings.   --Marvell.
 2. To thrust, drive, put, or close, in a hasty or abrupt manner; -- often followed by to, into, on, or upon.
    He had just time to get in and clap to the door.   --Locke
    Clap an extinguisher upon your irony.   --Lamb.
 3. To manifest approbation of, by striking the hands together; to applaud; as, to clap a performance.
 To clap hands. (a) To pledge faith by joining hands. [Obs.] --Shak. (b) To express contempt or derision. [Obs.] --Lam. ii. 15.
 To clap hold of, to seize roughly or quickly.
 To clap up. (a) To imprison hastily or without due formality. (b) To make or contrive hastily. [Obs.] “Was ever match clapped up so suddenly?”


 clapping
      See clap


 clap
      n 1: a sudden very loud noise [syn: bang, eruption, blast,
           loud noise]
      2: a common venereal disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria
         gonorrhoeae; symptoms are painful urination and pain
         around the urethra [syn: gonorrhea, gonorrhoea]
      3: a sharp abrupt noise as if two objects hit together; may be
         repeated [syn: clack]
      v 1: put quickly or forcibly; "The judge clapped him in jail"
      2: cause to strike the air in flight; "The big bird clapped its
         wings"
      3: clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate
         approval [syn: applaud, spat, acclaim] [ant: boo]
      4: clap one's hands together; "The children were clapping to
         the music" [syn: spat]
      5: strike the air in flight; "the wings of the birds clapped
         loudly"
      6: strike with the flat of the hand; usually in a friendly way,
         as in encouragement or greeting
      7: strike together so as to produce a sharp percussive noise;
         "clap two boards together"
      [also: clapping, clapped]


 clapping
      n : a demonstration of approval by clapping the hands together
          [syn: applause, hand clapping]