Clapped hands together to show approval, appreciation, or praise; or expressed approval and agreement with something.
From Latin 'applaudere,' combining 'ad-' meaning toward and 'plaudere' meaning to clap or strike. The term entered English in the 15th century from its Latin theatrical origins where audiences would literally clap to show approval.
Applause is fascinating because it's one of the few behaviors that's almost universally understood across cultures—humans instinctively understand that loud hand-clapping indicates approval, making it a rare case of a communication method that needs no translation.
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