applaud

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin applaudere (“to clap the hands together, applaud”), from ad (“to”) + plaudere (“to strike, clap”).

noun

1. (obsolete) Applause; applauding.
2. (obsolete) Plaudit.

verb

1. (transitive, intransitive) To express approval (of something) by clapping the hands.
   After the performance, the audience applauded for five minutes.
2. (transitive, intransitive) To praise, or express approval for something or someone.
   Although we don't like your methods, we applaud your motives.
   It moved him to within one goal of Thierry Henry's 34 in 2004 and Henry - honoured with a statue outside the stadium on Friday - rose from his seat in the stands to applaud Van Persie. December 10, 2011, David Ornstein, “Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton”, in BBC Sport