ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ovation

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //oʊˈveɪʃən// UK //əʊvˈeɪʃən// ova·tion Archaic Informal

n. a long period of loud clapping and cheering from an audience to show they really liked a performance. It often happens at the end of a show or speech.

n. a sustained and enthusiastic show of appreciation from an audience, typically through prolonged applause. Often modified by 'standing' to indicate the highest level of approval.


SIMPLE

The pianist received a long ovation after the final song.

CONTEXTUAL

The speaker's moving tribute to the retiring teacher earned her a thunderous ovation from everyone in the hall.

COMPLEX

While the play received mixed reviews from critics, the lead actor's final monologue was met with a spontaneous standing ovation that lasted several minutes.

Etymology 1

Learned borrowing from Latin ovātiōnem.

Etymology 2

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.

Usage

Commonly paired with the adjectives 'standing', 'thunderous', or 'rapturous'.

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