Clap - Clatter

Prev Next

Clap (klăp), n. 1. A loud noise made by sudden collision; a bang. “Give the door such a clap, as you go out, as will shake the whole room.” Swift.
[ Webster]

2. A burst of sound; a sudden explosion.
[ Webster]

Horrible claps of thunder. Hakewill.
[ Webster]

3. A single, sudden act or motion; a stroke; a blow.
[ Webster]

What, fifty of my followers at a clap! Shak.
[ Webster]

4. A striking of hands to express approbation.
[ Webster]

Unextrected claps or hisses. Addison.
[ Webster]

5. Noisy talk; chatter. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

6. (Falconry) The nether part of the beak of a hawk.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Clap dish . See Clack dish, under , n. -- Coloq. Clap net , a net for taking birds, made to close or clap together.
[ Webster]

Clap (?), n. [Cf. OF. clapoir.] Gonorrhea.
[ Webster]

Clapboard (?), n. 1. A narrow board, thicker at one edge than at the other; -- used for weatherboarding the outside of houses. [U. S.]
[ Webster]

2. A stave for a cask. [Eng.] Halliwell.
[ Webster]

Clapboard, v. t. To cover with clapboards; as, to clapboard the sides of a house. [U. S.] Bartlett.
[ Webster]

{ Clapbread (?), Clapcake (?) }, n. Oatmeal cake or bread clapped or beaten till it is thin. [Obs.] Halliwell.
[ Webster]

Clape (?), n. (Zoöl.) A bird; the flicker.
[ Webster]

Clapper (?), n. 1. A person who claps.
[ Webster]

2. That which strikes or claps, as the tongue of a bell, or the piece of wood that strikes a mill hopper, etc. See Illust. of .
[ Webster]

Coloq. Clapper rail (Zoöl.), an Americam species of rail (Rallus scepitans).
[ Webster]

Clapper, n. [F. clapier.] A rabbit burrow. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

clapperboard (klăppẽrbōrd), n. a device which synchronizes sound and picture while making a motion picture, consisting of boards held in front of a movie camera, which are are banged together.
[WordNet 1.5]

Clapperclaw (klăppẽrkl�), v. t. [Clap + claw.] 1. To fight and scratch. C. Smart.
[ Webster]

2. To abuse with the tongue; to revile; to scold.
[ Webster]

Claps (?), v. t. Variant of [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Claptrap (klăptrăp), n. 1. A contrivance for clapping in theaters. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

2. A trick or device to gain applause, especially pretentious but empty rhetoric; humbug.
[ Webster +PJC]

Claptrap, a. Contrived for the purpose of making a show, or gaining applause; deceptive; unreal.
[ Webster]

Claque (?), n. [F.] 1. A collection of persons employed to applaud at a theatrical exhibition.
[ Webster]

2. a group of sycophantic followers.
[PJC]

Claqueur (?), n. [F.] One of the claque employed to applaud at a theater.
[ Webster]

Clare (?), n. A nun of the order of St. Clare.
[ Webster]

Clarence (?), n. A close four-wheeled carriage, with one seat inside, and a seat for the driver.
[ Webster]

{ Clarenceux, Clarencieux } (?), n. (Her.) See .
[ Webster]

Clarendon (?), n. A style of type having a narrow and heave face. It is made in all sizes.
[ Webster]

☞ This line is in nonpareil Clarendon.
[ Webster]

Clare-obscure (?), n. [L. clarus clear + obscurus obscure; cf. F. clair-obscur. Cf. .] (Painting) See .
[ Webster]

Claret (klărĕt), n. [OE. claret, clare, clarry, OF. claret, claré, fr. cler, F. clair, clear, fr. L. clarus clear. See .] The name first given in England to the red wines of Médoc, in France, and afterwards extended to all the red Bordeaux wines. The name is also given to similar wines made in the United States.
[ Webster]

Claribella (?), n. [NL., from L. clarus clear + bellus fine.] (Mus.) A soft, sweet stop, or set of open wood pipes in an organ.
[ Webster]

Clarichord (?), n. [F. clatocorde, fr.L. clarus clear + chorda string. See .] A musical instrument, formerly in use, in form of a spinet; -- called also manichord and clavichord.
[ Webster]

Clarification (?), n. [Cf. F. clarification, L. clarificatio glorification.] 1. The act or process of making clear or transparent, by freeing visible impurities; as, the clarification of wine.
[ Webster]

2. The act of freeing from obscurities.
[ Webster]

The clarification of men's ideas. Whewell.
[ Webster]

Clarifier (?), n. 1. That which clarifies.
[ Webster]

2. A vessel in which the process of clarification is conducted; as, the clarifier in sugar works. Ure.
[ Webster]

Clarify (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clarified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Clarifying.] [F. clarifier, from L. clarificare; clarus clear + facere to make. See , and .] 1. To make clear or bright by freeing from feculent matter; to defecate; to fine; -- said of liquids, as wine or sirup. “Boiled and clarified.” Ure.
[ Webster]

2. To make clear; to free from obscurities; to brighten or illuminate.
[ Webster]

To clarify his reason, and to rectify his will. South.
[ Webster]

3. To glorify. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Fadir, clarifie thi name. Wyclif (John ii. 28).
[ Webster]

Clarify, v. i. 1. To grow or become clear or transparent; to become free from feculent impurities, as wine or other liquid under clarification.
[ Webster]

2. To grow clear or bright; to clear up.
[ Webster]

Whosoever hath his mind fraught with many thoughts, his wits and understanding do clarify and break up in the discoursing with another. Bacon.
[ Webster]

Clarigate (?), v. i. [L. clarigare] To declare war with certain ceremonies. [Obs.] Holland.
[ Webster]

Clarinet (?), n. [F. clarinette, dim. of clarine, from L. clarus. See , and cf. .] (Mus.) A wind instrument, blown by a single reed, of richer and fuller tone than the oboe, which has a double reed. It is the leading instrument in a military band. [Often improperly called clarionet.]
[ Webster]

clarinetist, clarinettist n. a musician who plays the clarinet.
[WordNet 1.5]

Clarino (?), n. [It. a trumpet.] (Mus.) A reed stop in an organ.
[ Webster]

Clarion (?), n. [OE. clarioun, OF. clarion, F. clairon, LL. clario, claro; so called from its clear tone, fr. L. clarus clear. See .] A kind of trumpet, whose note is clear and shrill.
[ Webster]

He sounds his imperial clarion along the whole line of battle. E. Everett.
[ Webster]

Clarionet (?), n. [See , .] (Mus.) See .
[ Webster]

Clarisonus (?), a. [L. clarisonus; clarus + sonus.] Having a clear sound. [Obs.] Ash.
[ Webster]

Claritude (?), n. [L. claritudo, fr. clarus clear.] Clearness; splendor. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
[ Webster]

Clarity (?), n. [L. claritas, fr. clarus clear: cf. F. clarté.] Clearness; brightness; splendor.
[ Webster]

Floods, in whose more than crystal clarity,
Innumerable virgin graces row. Beaumont.
[ Webster]

Claro-obscuro (?), n. See .
[ Webster]

Clarré, n. [See .] Wine with a mixture of honey and species. [Obs.] Chaucer.
[ Webster]

Clart (?), v. t. [Cf. Armor. kalar mud, mire, kalara to dirt, Sw. lort mud.] To daub, smear, or spread, as with mud, etc. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
[ Webster]

Clarty (?), a. Sticky and foul; muddy; filthy; dirty. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
[ Webster]

Clary (?), v. i. [Cf. .] To make a loud or shrill noise. [Obs.] Golding.
[ Webster]

Clary (?), n. [Cf. LL. sclarea, scarlea, D. & G. scharlei, F. sclarée.] (Bot.) A plant (Salvia sclarea) of the Sage family, used in flavoring soups.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Clary water , a composition of clary flowers with brandy, etc., formerly used as a cardiac.
[ Webster]

Clash (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clashed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Clashing.] [Of imitative origin; cf. G. klatschen, Prov. G. kleschen, D. kletsen, Dan. klaske, E. clack.] 1. To make a noise by striking against something; to dash noisily together.
[ Webster]

2. To meet in opposition; to act in a contrary direction; to come onto collision; to interfere.
[ Webster]

However some of his interests might clash with those of the chief adjacent colony. Palfrey.
[ Webster]

Clash, v. t. To strike noisily against or together.
[ Webster]

Clash n. 1. A loud noise resulting from collision; a noisy collision of bodies; a collision.
[ Webster]

The roll of cannon and clash of arms. Tennyson.
[ Webster]

2. Opposition; contradiction; as between differing or contending interests, views, purposes, etc.
[ Webster]

Clashes between popes and kings. Denham.
[ Webster]

Clash gear. (Mach.) A change-speed gear in which the gears are changed by sliding endwise.
[Webster Suppl.]

Clashingly, adv. With clashing.
[ Webster]

Clasp (klȧsp), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clasped (klȧspt); p. pr. & vb. n. Clasping] [OE. claspen, clapsen, prob. akin to E. clap.] 1. To shut or fasten together with, or as with, a clasp; to shut or fasten (a clasp, or that which fastens with a clasp).
[ Webster]

2. To inclose and hold in the hand or with the arms; to grasp; to embrace.
[ Webster]

3. To surround and cling to; to entwine about. “Clasping ivy.” Milton.
[ Webster]

Clasp, n. 1. An adjustable catch, bent plate, or hook, for holding together two objects or the parts of anything, as the ends of a belt, the covers of a book, etc.
[ Webster]

2. A close embrace; a throwing of the arms around; a grasping, as with the hand.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Clasp knife , a large knife, the blade of which folds or shuts into the handle. -- Coloq. Clasp lock , a lock which closes or secures itself by means of a spring.
[ Webster]

Clasper (klȧspẽr), n. 1. One who, or that which, clasps, as a tendril. “The claspers of vines.” Derham.
[ Webster]

2. (Zoöl.) (a) One of a pair of organs used by the male for grasping the female among many of the Crustacea. (b) One of a pair of male copulatory organs, developed on the anterior side of the ventral fins of sharks and other elasmobranchs. See Illust. of .
[ Webster]

Claspered (?), a. Furnished with tendrils.
[ Webster]

Class (klȧs), n. [F. classe, fr. L. classis class, collection, fleet; akin to Gr. klh^sis a calling, kalei^n to call, E. claim, haul.] 1. A group of individuals ranked together as possessing common characteristics; as, the different classes of society; the educated class; the lower classes.
[ Webster]

2. A number of students in a school or college, of the same standing, or pursuing the same studies.
[ Webster]

3. A comprehensive division of animate or inanimate objects, grouped together on account of their common characteristics, in any classification in natural science, and subdivided into orders, families, tribes, genera, etc.
[ Webster]

4. A set; a kind or description, species or variety.
[ Webster]

She had lost one class energies. Macaulay.
[ Webster]

5. (Methodist Church) One of the sections into which a church or congregation is divided, and which is under the supervision of a class leader.
[ Webster]

6. One session of formal instruction in which one or more teachers instruct a group on some subject. The class may be one of a course of classes, or a single special session.
[PJC]

7. A high degree of elegance, in dress or behavior; the quality of bearing oneself with dignity, grace, and social adeptness.
[PJC]

Coloq. Class of a curve (Math.), the kind of a curve as expressed by the number of tangents that can be drawn from any point to the curve. A circle is of the second class. -- Coloq. Class meeting (Methodist Church), a meeting of a class under the charge of a class leader, for counsel and relegious instruction.
[ Webster]

Class (klȧs), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Classed (klȧst); p. pr. & vb. n. Classing.] [Cf. F. classer. See , n.] 1. To arrange in classes; to classify or refer to some class; as, to class words or passages.
[ Webster]

☞ In scientific arrangement, to classify is used instead of to class. Dana.
[ Webster]

2. To divide into classes, as students; to form into, or place in, a class or classes.
[ Webster]

Class, v. i. To be grouped or classed.
[ Webster]

The genus or family under which it classes. Tatham.
[ Webster]

Class (klȧs), a. exhibiting refinement and high character; as, a class act. Opposite of low-class [informal]
Syn. -- high-class. [PJC]

Class day. In American colleges and universities, a day of the commencement season on which the senior class celebrates the completion of its course by exercises conducted by the members, such as the reading of the class histories and poem, the delivery of the class oration, the planting of the class ivy, etc.
[Webster Suppl.]

Classible (?), a. Capable of being classed.
[ Webster]

{ Classic (klăssĭk), Classical (?), } a. [L. classicus relating to the classes of the Roman people, and especially to the frist class; hence, of the first rank, superior, from classis class: cf. F. classique. See , n.] 1. Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.
[ Webster]

Give, as thy last memorial to the age,
One classic drama, and reform the stage. Byron.
[ Webster]

Mr. Greaves may justly be reckoned a classical author on this subject [Roman weights and coins]. Arbuthnot.
[ Webster]

2. Of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans, esp. to Greek or Roman authors of the highest rank, or of the period when their best literature was produced; of or pertaining to places inhabited by the ancient Greeks and Romans, or rendered famous by their deeds.
[ Webster]

Though throned midst Latium's classic plains. Mrs. Hemans.
[ Webster]

The epithet classical, as applied to ancient authors, is determined less by the purity of their style than by the period at which they wrote. Brande & C.
[ Webster]

He [Atterbury] directed the classical studies of the undergraduates of his college. Macaulay.
[ Webster]

3. Conforming to the best authority in literature and art; chaste; pure; refined; as, a classical style.
[ Webster]

Classical, provincial, and national synods. Macaulay.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Classicals orders . (Arch.) See under .
[ Webster]

Classic, n. 1. A work of acknowledged excellence and authority, or its author; -- originally used of Greek and Latin works or authors, but now applied to authors and works of a like character in any language.
[ Webster]

In is once raised him to the rank of a legitimate English classic. Macaulay.
[ Webster]

2. One learned in the literature of Greece and Rome, or a student of classical literature.
[ Webster]

Classicalism (?), n. 1. A classical idiom, style, or expression; a classicism.
[ Webster]

2. Adherence to what are supposed or assumed to be the classical canons of art.
[ Webster]

Classicalist, n. One who adheres to what he thinks the classical canons of art. Ruskin.
[ Webster]

{ Classicality (?), Classicalness (?), } n. The quality of being classical.
[ Webster]

Classically, adv. 1. In a classical manner; according to the manner of classical authors.
[ Webster]

2. In the manner of classes; according to a regular order of classes or sets.
[ Webster]

Classicism (?), n. A classic idiom or expression; a classicalism. C. Kingsley.
[ Webster]

Classicist (?), n. One learned in the classics; an advocate for the classics.
[ Webster]

classicistic adj. of or pertaining to classicism; as, classicistic tradition.
[WordNet 1.5]

classicize v. t. to make classic or classical.
[WordNet 1.5]

classics n. pl. the branch of learning concerned with study of the literary works of ancient Greece and Rome.
[WordNet 1.5]

Classifiable (?), a. Capable of being classified.
[ Webster]

Classific (?), a. Characterizing a class or classes; relating to classification.
[ Webster]

Classification (?), n. [Cf. F. classification.] The act of forming into a class or classes; a distribution into groups, as classes, orders, families, etc., according to some common relations or affinities.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Artificial classification . (Science) See under .
[ Webster]

Classificatory (?), a. Pertaining to classification; admitting of classification. “A classificatory system.” Earle.
[ Webster]

classified adj. 1. arranged into classes or categories; as, unclassified.
Syn. -- categorized.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

2. assigned to a class of documents withheld from general circulation; -- of information or documents. Opposite of unclassified. [Narrower terms: eyes-only; confidential; restricted; secret; sensitive; top-secret]
[WordNet 1.5]

Classifier (?), n. One who classifies.
[ Webster]

Classify (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Classified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Classifying.] [L. classis class + -fy.] To distribute into classes; to arrange according to a system; to arrange in sets according to some method founded on common properties or characters.

Syn. -- To arrange; distribute; rank.
[ Webster]

Classis (?), n.; pl. Classes (#). [L. See , n.] 1. A class or order; sort; kind. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

His opinion of that classis of men. Clarendon.
[ Webster]

2. (Eccl.) An ecclesiastical body or judicatory in certain churches, as the Reformed Dutch. It is intermediate between the consistory and the synod, and corresponds to the presbytery in the Presbyterian church.
[ Webster]

Classman (?), n.; pl. Classmen(#). 1. A member of a class; a classmate.
[ Webster]

2. A candidate for graduation in arts who is placed in an honor class, as opposed to a passman, who is not classified. [Oxford, Eng.]
[ Webster]

Classmate (?), n. One who is in the same class with another, as at school or college.
[ Webster]

classy adj. 1. having elegance or taste or refinement in manners or dress. Opposite of styleless. [informal]
Syn. -- posh, swish, stylish.
[WordNet 1.5]

2. exhibiting refinement and high character. Opposite of low-class [informal]
Syn. -- high-class. [PJC]

Clastic (?), a. [Gr. � br�, fr. � to break.] 1. Pertaining to what may be taken apart; as, clastic anatomy (of models).
[ Webster]

2. (Min.) Fragmental; made up of brok� fragments; as, sandstone is a clastic rock.
[ Webster]

Clatch (?), n. [Cf. Scot. clatch a slap, the noise caused by the collision of soft bodies; prob. of imitative origin.] (Scot. & Dial. Eng.) 1. A soft or sloppy lump or mass; as, to throw a clatch of mud.
[Webster Suppl.]

2. Anything put together or made in a careless or slipshod way; hence, a sluttish or slipshod woman.
[Webster Suppl.]

Clatch, v. t. & i. To daub or smear, as with lime; to make or finish in a slipshod way. [Scot.]
[Webster Suppl.]

Clathraceae n. a antural family of fleshy stinkhornlike fungi.
Syn. -- family Clathraceae.
[WordNet 1.5]

Clathrate (klăthr�t), a. [L. clathri lattice, Gr. klh,qra.] 1. (Bot.) Shaped like a lattice; cancellate. Gray.
[ Webster]

2. (Zoöl.) Having the surface marked with raised lines resembling a lattice, as many shells.
[ Webster]

Clathrus n. the type genus of the Clathraceae.
Syn. -- genus Clathrus.
[WordNet 1.5]

Clatter (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clattered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Clattering.] [AS. cla�rung a rattle, akin to D. klateren to rattle. Cf. .] 1. To make a rattling sound by striking hard bodies together; to make a succession of abrupt, rattling sounds.
[ Webster]

Clattering loud with iron clank. Longfellow.
[ Webster]

2. To talk fast and noisily; to rattle with the tongue.
[ Webster]

I see thou dost but clatter. Spenser.
[ Webster]

Clatter, v. t. To make a rattling noise with.
[ Webster]

You clatter still your brazen kettle. Swift.
[ Webster]

Clatter, n. 1. A rattling noise, esp. that made by the collision of hard bodies; also, any loud, abrupt sound; a repetition of abrupt sounds.
[ Webster]

The goose let fall a golden egg
With cackle and with clatter. Tennyson.
[ Webster]

2. Commotion; disturbance. “Those mighty feats which made such a clatter in story.” Barrow.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z