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Clap vs Clamp - What's the difference?

clap | clamp |

As nouns the difference between clap and clamp

is that clap is the act of striking the palms of the hands, or any two surfaces, together while clamp is a brace, band, or clasp for strengthening or holding things together.

As verbs the difference between clap and clamp

is that clap is to strike the palms of the hands together, creating a sharp sound while clamp is to fasten in place or together with (or as if with) a clamp.

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

    * ----

    clamp

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A brace, band, or clasp for strengthening or holding things together.
  • A mass of bricks heaped up to be burned; or of ore for roasting, or of coal coking.
  • A piece of wood (batten) across the grain of a board end to keep it flat, as in a breadboard.
  • A heavy footstep; a tramp.

    • Derived terms

    * clover clamp * nipple clamp

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (intransitive) To fasten in place or together with (or as if with) a clamp .
  • * 1897 , (Bram Stoker), (Dracula) Chapter 21
    • As we burst into the room, the Count turned his face, and the hellish look that I had heard described seemed to leap into it. His eyes flamed red with devilish passion. The great nostrils of the white aquiline nose opened wide and quivered at the edge, and the white sharp teeth, behind the full lips of the blood dripping mouth, clamped together like those of a wild beast.
  • To tread heavily or clumsily; to clump or clomp.
  • * Thackeray
    • The policeman with clamping feet.
  • To hold or grip tightly.
  • To modify a numeric value so it lies within a specific range.
  • (UK, obsolete, transitive) To cover (vegetables, etc.) with earth.

    • Derived terms

    * clamp down

    See also

    * clasp * vise, vice