ovation
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a long period of loud clapping by an audience to show great approval.
prolonged and enthusiastic applause by an audience as a sign of approval or appreciation.
Simple“The pianist received a standing ovation after her incredible performance.”
In context“The speaker's final remarks were met with a thunderous ovation that lasted for several minutes, reflecting the audience's deep resonance with the message.”
- 02 C2 Proficiency
a smaller parade in ancient Rome to celebrate a general's victory.
a minor victory ceremony in ancient Rome, granted to a general whose success did not meet the requirements for a full triumph.
Simple“The general was granted an ovation rather than a full triumph for his victory.”
In context“Historians note that while a triumph involved a chariot and laurel crown, an ovation was a more modest affair where the general entered the city on foot.”
“The young Pakastani left the field to the warmest ovation.”
Learned borrowing from Latin ovātiōnem.
From Late Latin ovatio (“egg-laying”) + English -ion (suffix indicating an action or process, or the result of an action or process). Ovatio is derived from ovāre (“to lay eggs”), from Latin ōvum (“egg”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew- (“dress; to be dressed, clothe oneself”)) + -āre.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.