Applauding

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Showing appreciation or approval by clapping hands together loudly
2. Making a sound with hands striking to praise or applaud someone or something
3. Expressing approval or praise through the rhythmic striking of palms

Etymology: "Applauding" is the present participle of "applaud," which comes from the Latin "applaudere," meaning "to clap at" or "to strike together in approval." The Latin verb combines "ad," meaning "to" or "toward," with "plaudere," meaning "to clap" or "to strike the hands together." Its root, "plaudere," is also the source of "plausible" and "explode," so the same clapping root turns up in words that have nothing to do with applause. The original Latin sense was partly physical, and Roman audiences clapped during performances much as modern ones do. The Latin verb also developed a figurative sense of praising or approving, and the English word, borrowed in the 1500s, followed that path. The present participle "applauding" simply marks the action in progress, as in "the crowd was applauding."

Synonyms: cheering, clapping, praising, commending, lauding

Antonyms: booing, criticizing, denouncing