applaud

Compared meaning: to clap the hands to show approval (verb).

比较义项：鼓掌（表示赞赏）（动词）。

• applaud 本词

  More formal; typically describes an audience clapping for a performance or speech, and can extend figuratively to mean approving or praising a decision, plan, or action.

  更为正式；通常指观众为演出或演讲鼓掌，也可以引申为对某个决定、计划或行为表示赞许、支持。

  The audience began to applaud loudly after the final song ended.

  最后一首歌结束后，观众开始大声鼓掌。

• clap

  More casual and concrete; simply means striking your hands together, and can be used outside approval contexts, such as clapping along to a beat or clapping once to get attention.

  更口语、更具体；仅指双手相击的动作，也可以用在与“赞赏”无关的场合，比如跟着节拍拍手，或拍一下手引起注意。

  The audience began to clap loudly when the show ended.

  演出结束时，观众开始大声鼓掌。

Applaud and clap both mean to clap hands to show approval. Applaud is formal, used for an audience at a performance, and can mean approving a decision. Clap is more casual, meaning to strike your hands together. Rhythmic clapping or hitting someone are not compared.

这两个词都表示为表示赞赏而拍手，但语域和用法有别：applaud更正式，常用于观众对演出、演讲的反应，也常引申为“赞许、支持”某个决定或做法；clap更口语、更具体，只指手掌相击的动作，也可以脱离“赞赏”的语境使用。这里不比较clap“随节奏拍手”或“拍打某人”等其他用法。