claque

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View all »Definitions (6)

American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. noun A group of persons hired to applaud at a performance.
  2. noun A group of fawning admirers.

View all » Examples

  • Oscar faced the American Philistine public without his accustomed claque, and under these circumstances a half-success was evidence of considerable power. —  Oscar Wilde
  • Oscar faced the American Philistine public without his accustomed "claque", and under these circumstances a half-success was evidence of considerable power. —  Oscar Wilde His Life and Confessions
  • In spite of the applause of the philosophic claque, led by Grimm, [253] posterity has ratified the coldness with which it was received by contemporaries. —  Diderot and the Encyclopaedists
  • You know the claque is a set of men who are hired to clap at certain points in the play indicated beforehand to them, in order that the audience may appreciate the most salient points and join the applause, if they wish to. —  In the Courts of Memory 1858-1875
  • You know the claque is a set of men who are hired to clap at certain points in the play indicated beforehand to them, in order that the audience may appreciate the most salient points and join the applause, if they wish to Every one enjoyed the play immensely. —  In the Courts of Memory, 1858 1875; from Contemporary Letters
 

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Claque has been looked up 296 times, favorited 3 times, listed 33 times, commented on twice, and has a Scrabble score of 17.

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View all »Etymologies (3)

American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. French, from claquer, to clap, of imitative origin.

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Pronunciations

/ (klăk)/
by American Heritage Dictionary

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