ad-

to, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

Forms

ad-
ac- — Used before c in Latin.
af- — Used before f in Latin.
ag- — Used before g in Latin.
al- — Used before l in Latin.
ap- — Used before p in Latin.
ar- — Used before r in Latin.
as- — Used before s in Latin.
at- — Used before t in Latin.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ad, ‘to; near.’

Note

Later Latin-based spellings sometimes restored consonants that had disappeared in French.

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verb

applaud

uh-PLAWD/əˈplɔːd/

To show approval or appreciation, especially by clapping.

The smiling audience member applauds the violinist's bow.

An older audience member smiles and claps toward a young violinist taking a bow, making approval through hand-clapping visible.

Etymology

apLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

+plaudLatinclap or strike together

The clapping root connects approval with its audible expression: clapping hands. Although Latin already joined these meanings, English recorded the broader sense of praising before the literal hand-clapping sense.

In context

Town Meeting TV155:08

we want to applaud the council and the city for your tireless dedication to finding Solutions to the addiction crisis and to share our support for the resolution

Burlington City Council - 10/10/2023

More examples

They applauded the decision.
She is applauding from the front row.
The audience had applauded for several minutes.

Forms

applaud · applauds · applauded · applauding

applause noun — approval expressed by clapping

Similar words

clap: Names the physical action without always implying approval.
praise: Shows approval through words rather than clapping.