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# clap

verb (clap, claps, clapped, clapping); noun (a clap, claps)

«clap» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To hit your hands together, usually again and again, to show you like something, to keep a beat or to get attention. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clap/#m1)
2. A clap is one loud sharp sound, like a clap of thunder. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clap/#m2)
3. To put something somewhere quickly and firmly: clap a hand over your mouth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clap/#m3)
4. "Clap eyes on" means to see. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clap/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life, people clap (applaud) at the end of a show, assembly or game to say well done. In music, we clap rhythms and beats; in phonics, clapping the syllables of a word helps you count them (but-ter-fly = 3 claps). Teachers clap a pattern to get the class's attention. In science, a clap of thunder is the sound of lightning heating the air very fast. Phrases: "clap your hands", "a round of applause / a big clap", "clap along", "a clap of thunder", "give them a clap".

### Examples

- Let's all clap for the winners. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clap/#x1)
- Clap the syllables in "elephant": el-e-phant, three claps. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clap/#x2)
- We clapped along to the music. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clap/#x3)
- There was a loud clap of thunder. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clap/#x4)
- The teacher clapped twice and the class went quiet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clap/#x5)
- Give Ben a big clap for his poem! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clap/#x6)
- She clapped her hand over her mouth in surprise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clap/#x7)
- Count the claps: clap, clap, clap — that's three. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clap/#x8)
- The Fairy clapped her hands twice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clap/#x9)

### Note

Regular verb, double p: clapped, clapping. "Applaud" is a more formal word for clap. In maths and music, a clap pattern can repeat: "clap, clap, pause" repeated 4 times = 8 claps.

## In Jewish tradition

To clap hands as a sign of joy and praise, or sometimes of scorn.

**Interpretation.** The psalms picture even rivers and nations clapping for God as King. Tradition reads this as creation joining in the praise of God's rule.

### Examples

- Let the floods clap their hands; let the mountains sing for joy together; (Writings PSA.98.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/clap/#x1)
- Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place. (Writings JOB.27.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/clap/#x2)
- O clap your hands, all ye peoples; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. (Writings PSA.47.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/clap/#x3)

### Note

Regular verb, double p: clapped, clapping. "Applaud" is a more formal word for clap. In maths and music, a clap pattern can repeat: "clap, clap, pause" repeated 4 times = 8 claps.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «clap» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/clap/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«clap» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clap.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «clap» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/clap/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«clap» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/clap.html) on Mova free.