clap

B1 · Intermediate

v. to bring two things together quickly and loudly, like hands or books.

v. to bring two surfaces together forcefully to produce a sharp, percussive sound.

“He clapped his hands to get the children's attention in the noisy playground.”

“She clapped the heavy ledger shut, sending a small cloud of dust into the air of the dimly lit archive.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a single, sudden, and very loud noise of thunder.

n. a sudden, explosive auditory discharge of thunder.

“A sudden clap of thunder made everyone jump during the picnic.”

“The silence of the valley was shattered by a deafening clap of thunder that echoed off the surrounding granite cliffs.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Medicine Slang · Informal

n. a common illness passed through sex.

n. a colloquial and historically derogatory term for the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea.

Español:purgaciones

“He had to go to the clinic because he thought he caught the clap.”

“Public health posters from the mid-twentieth century often used blunt language regarding the clap to warn soldiers about the risks of untreated infections.”

C1 · Advanced Literary · Formal

v. to put someone or something somewhere very quickly or suddenly.

v. to place, set, or imprison someone or something with suddenness or force.

“The guards were ordered to clap the prisoner in irons.”

“The authorities decided to clap the protesters into custody before the demonstration could escalate into a full-scale riot.”