From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishapplaudap‧plaud /əˈplɔːd $ əˈplɒːd/ ●○○ verb 1 [intransitive, transitive] to hit your open hands together, to show that you have enjoyed a play, concert, speaker etc SYN clap The audience applauded loudly. A crowd of 300 supporters warmly applauded her speech.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say clap rather than applaud: Everyone was clapping and cheering.2 PRAISE[transitive] formal to express strong approval of an idea, plan etc I applaud the decision to install more security cameras.applaud somebody for something She should be applauded for her honesty.► see thesaurus at praise→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
applaud• When his earnings reached $ 10,000, they applauded.• It was a superb play, but there was no gallery to applaud Barnes's artistry.• Her speech was warmly applauded by a full chamber.• Caminiti's public remarks were applauded by his teammates.• His plans for better irrigation and agriculture were warmly applauded by the people of Lancre, who then did nothing about them.• The team should be applauded for its open-house attitude to the sales.• Some members of the audience applauded it.• The city applauded its successes and dismissed its failures.• People laughed and applauded politely.• The President was applauded repeatedly during his 40-minute speech.• Carol Browner, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, applauded the bill.• We applaud the company's efforts to improve safety.• A group of supporters applauded the strikers as they were led into court.• The crowd applauded when Evans promised to cut taxes.warmly applauded• Her speech was warmly applauded by a full chamber.• His plans for better irrigation and agriculture were warmly applauded by the people of Lancre, who then did nothing about them.• The 300-strong crowd of party supporters warmly applauded her when she argued Labour's policies would give a fair deal to women.applaud ... decision• The audience applauded the decision, but I pointed out that we ought not to relax about this matter.• I applaud the decision of my local council to install cameras around the centre.Origin applaud (1400-1500) Latin applaudere, from ad- “to” + plaudere “to applaud” 