applaud

UK: /əˈplɔːd/ US: /əˈplɔd/ ,(ə plôd′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ap•plaud /əˈplɔd/   v. 

1. to clap the hands together in approval or appreciation (of): [no object]
   The audience applauded wildly.
   [~ + object]
   They applauded her performance.
2. [~ + object] to express approval of;
   praise:
   We applauded their decision.

See -plaud-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ap•plaud  (ə plôd′), v.i. 

1. to clap the hands as an expression of approval, appreciation, acclamation, etc.:
   They applauded wildly at the end of the opera.
2. to express approval;
   give praise;
   acclaim.

v.t. 

3. to clap the hands so as to show approval, appreciation, etc., of:
   to applaud an actor; to applaud a speech.
4. to praise or express approval of:
   to applaud a person's ambition.

• Latin applaudere, equivalent. to ap- ap-¹ + plaudere to clap the hands
• 1530–40

ap•plaud′er, n. 
ap•plaud′ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

applaud / əˈplɔːd/ verb

1. to indicate approval of (a person, performance, etc) by clapping the hands
2. (usually tr) to offer or express approval or praise of (an action, person, or thing): I applaud your decision

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin applaudere to clap, from plaudere to beat, applaud