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Clang vs Clap - What's the difference?

clang | clap | Related terms |

Clang is a related term of clap.


As nouns the difference between clang and clap

is that clang is a loud, ringing sound, like that made by free-hanging metal objects striking each other while clap is the act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together or clap can be gonorrhea.

As verbs the difference between clang and clap

is that clang is to strike (objects) together so as to produce a clang while clap is to strike the palms of the hands together, creating a sharp sound.

clang

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A loud, ringing sound, like that made by free-hanging metal objects striking each other.
  • Quality of tone.
  • The cry of some birds, including the crane and the goose.
  • (psychology, psychiatry) A word or phrase linked only by sound and not by meaning, characteristic of some mental disorders.
  • * Oliver Sacks, Awakenings
    • For much of this day, Mrs Y. wrote in her diary, covering page after page in a rapid scrawl full of paligraphic repetitions, puns, clangs, and violent, perseverative crossings-out

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To strike (objects) together so as to produce a clang.
  • * Prior
    • The fierce Caretes clanged their sounding arms.
  • To give out a clang; to resound.
  • * 1933 , Norvell Page, Wings of the Black Death
    • A cell door clanged metallically and Wentworth was flung inside. He tripped, collapsed upon the concrete floor.
  • * 1920 , Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence Chapter XXIX
    • The clanging and groaning of the train came nearer, and it staggered slowly into the station like a prey- laden monster into its lair.
  • * 1917 , Rose Wilder Lane, Henry Ford’s Own Story
    • Then the sparks flew from the anvil while the great hammer clanged on the metal, shaping it, and Henry begged to be allowed to try it

    clap

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together.
    • He summoned the waiter with a clap .
  • The explosive sound of thunder.
  • * Episode 12, The Cyclops
    • The deafening claps of thunder and the dazzling flashes of lightning which lit up the ghastly scene testified that the artillery of heaven had lent its supernatural pomp to the already gruesome spectacle.
  • Any loud, sudden, explosive sound made by striking hard surfaces together, or resembling such a sound.
    • Off in the distance, he heard the clap of thunder.
  • * Jonathan Swift
    • Give the door such a clap , as you go out, as will shake the whole room.
  • A slap with the hand, usually in a jovial manner.
    • His father's affection never went further than a handshake or a clap on the shoulder.
  • A single, sudden act or motion; a stroke; a blow.
  • * Shakespeare
    • What, fifty of my followers at a clap !
  • (falconry) The nether part of the beak of a hawk.
  • (Yorkshire) A dropping of cow dung (presumably from the sound made as it hits the ground) Edward Peacock, A Glossary of Words Used in the Wapentakes of Manley and Corringham, Lincolnshire , p 188
  • * 1890 , John Nicholson, Folk Lore of East Yorkshire , page 139
    • “Oh! get some coo clap (cow dung), mix it wi’ fish oil (whale oil), put it on, and let it stop on all neet.”
    Synonyms
    * (sound of thunder) thunderclap * See also
    Derived terms
    * thunderclap

    Verb

    (Clapping)
  • To strike the palms of the hands together, creating a sharp sound.
    • The children began to clap in time with the music.
  • To applaud.
    • The audience loudly clapped the actress, who responded with a deep curtsey.
    It isn’t the singers they are clapping ; it's the composer.
  • To slap with the hand in a jovial manner.
    • He would often clap his teammates on the back for encouragement.
  • To bring two surfaces together forcefully, creating a sharp sound.
    • He clapped the empty glass down on the table.
    She clapped the book shut.
    ''He clapped across the floor in his boots.
  • * Marvell
    • Then like a bird it sits and sings, / And whets and claps its silver wings.
  • To come together suddenly with noise.
  • * Dryden
    • The doors around me clapped .
  • To create or assemble (something) hastily (usually followed by up'' or ''together ).
    • We should clap together a shelter before nightfall.
    ''The rival factions clapped up a truce.
  • To set or put, usually in haste.
    • The sheriff clapped him in jail.
    She was the prettiest thing I'd ever clapped eyes on.
  • * John Locke
    • He had just time to get in and clap to the door.
  • * Lamb
    • Clap an extinguisher upon your irony.
  • (slang, AAVE) To shoot (somebody) with a gun.
    • Derived terms
    * clapper * claptrap * clapperboard

    See also

    * applaud * applause

    Etymology 2

    Uncertain.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Gonorrhea.
    • 1997 MASH
  • * “What in hell makes you think he's got the clap ?” Hawkeye asked. “Even a clap doctor can't diagnose it through a parka
    • 1998 Dan Savage
  • * When I explained that I thought he had given me the clap , he said I must be mistaken, it had to be someone I'd “tricked” with at ... He'd never had an STD in his life, he told me, and slammed down the phone.
    • 1998 Changing Bodies
  • * He thought I had given him the clap [gonorrhea], but I knew I didn't.
    • 2006 The STDs Update
  • * Gonorrhea, sometimes called the clap , is caused by a bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
    • I'm gonna kill that bitch for giving me the clap !
    If your dick has "the drip" you probably have the clap and need to go to the sex clinic.
    He wasn't careful; he caught both syphilis and the clap .

    References

    Anagrams

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