Clap means to strike your hands together to make a sharp, loud sound. When you clap, you bring your palms together quickly and pull them apart again. People clap to show appreciation, like when an audience applauds after a great performance, or to get someone's attention, like a teacher giving three quick claps to signal the class to listen.

You might also hear the word used differently: thunder claps when it makes a sudden, explosive sound during a storm. Someone might clap you on the shoulder in a friendly way, giving you a quick, firm pat.

The word can be a noun too. A clap of thunder means a single loud boom. When you give someone “a clap on the back,” you're patting them in congratulations or encouragement.

Clapping creates rhythm and energy. In some songs, everyone claps along to the beat. When your team scores, the crowd's clapping builds excitement. And when you're the one on stage and hear that wave of clapping wash over you, there's no mistaking what it means: people are celebrating what you just accomplished.