clapping

Everyday

1. Clapping is hitting your hands together again and again to make a sound, to show you liked something or to cheer. tree →
2. Clapping is the -ing form of «clap»: hitting your hands together, or making a sudden loud noise like thunder. tree →
3. Clapping also means patting someone in a friendly way: «clapping him on the back». tree →

In the lessons

In music lessons, clapping keeps the beat and shows rhythm patterns; in school assemblies clapping shows thanks and praise. Clapping games («Miss Mary Mack», «A sailor went to sea») are playground rhymes. Phrases: «clapping along», «a round of applause», «clapping games», «clap your hands».

Examples

• Everyone was clapping at the end of the play. tree →
• We kept time by clapping to the music. tree →
• The crowd started clapping and cheering. tree →
• We played clapping games in the playground. tree →
• Clapping hands, she jumped for joy. tree →
• The teacher was clapping a rhythm for us to copy. tree →
• Thunder was clapping over the hills. tree →
• Clapping is how we say «well done» in assembly. tree →
• "Oh how capital," said little Ida, clapping her hands. tree →

Note

From «clap»: double p (clapped, clapping). Noun: applause (more formal). Different cultures show appreciation differently; some quiet events or deaf audiences use «silent applause» (waving hands).