Lewis & Short

plaudo (plōdo, Varr. ap. Non. 478, 5, and Quint. 6, 1, 52), si, sum, 3, v. a. and n.

  1. I. Act., to clap, strike, beat any thing (poet.; cf. plango), Verg. Cir. 179: pectora manu, Ov. M. 2, 866: clipeum pectore, Stat. Th. 7, 134: aquas, id. S. 1, 3, 74: choreas pedibus, to execute a choral dance, stamping with the feet, Verg. A. 6, 644: plausis alis, Ov. M. 14, 507; 14, 577.
  2. II. Neutr., to clap, strike, beat (of two bodies striking together).
    1. A. In gen. (poet. and in postAug. prose): alis Plaudentem figit sub nube columbam, Verg. A. 5, 515: pennis, with her wings, Ov. M. 8, 238: rostro, id. ib. 6, 97.
      Absol.: aversas inter se manus collide, non plaudent, Sen. Q. N. 2, 28.
    2. B. In partic.
      1. 1. To clap the hands in token of approbation, to applaud, clap (class.): manus suas in plaudendo consumere, Cic. Att. 16, 2, 3: huic ita plausum est, ut salvā re publicā Pompeio plaudi solebat, id. ib. 2, 19, 3.
        In the theatre, at the close of the piece: nunc, spectatores, Jovis summi causā clare plaudite, Plaut. Am. fin.; id. Ep. fin.; cf.: usque Sessuri, donec cantor, vos plaudite, dicat, Hor. A. P. 155; and: cum ventum est ad ipsum illud. quo veteres tragoediae comoediaeque clauduntur, Plodite, Quint. 6, 1, 52 Spald. N. cr.; cf. also: manibus clare, Plaut. Cas. fin.: spectavi ego pridem comicos ad istum modum Sapienter dicta dicere atque is plaudier, id. Rud. 4, 7, 24: in aliquem, to express disapprobation of any one by clapping, pounding, stamping, i. e. to hiss him off, Min. Fel. Octav. 14.
      2. 2. Transf., in gen., to express approbation, to approve, applaud: plaudit sepultis, Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 88: dis hominibusque plaudentibus, Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 4, 1; Juv. 3, 157: funus, id. 1, 146: sibi, to applaud one’s self, to be satisfied or well contented with one’s self: populus me sibilat: at mihi plaudo Ipse domi, Hor. S. 1, 1, 66: nec ipse tibi plaudis, Plin. Ep. 9, 14.
      3. 3. To strike hands in completing a bargain: stultus homo plaudet manibus, Vulg. Prov. 17, 18.