claque

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A group of people hired to attend a performance and to either applaud or boo.
  2. A group of fawning admirers.
  3. A group of people who pre-arrange among themselves to express strong support for an idea, so as to give the false impression of a wider consensus.

Pronunciation

/ˈklæk/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-claque.wav

Word forms

claque claques

Etymology

Borrowed from French claque (“group of people hired to applaud or boo, claque”, literally “a slap; a clap”).

Related words

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