1Clapping the hands together to make sound, typically to show approval, praise, or joy.
演奏が終わると会場から大きな拍手が起こった。
When the performance ended, loud applause rose from the venue.
発表の最後に拍手をお願いします。
Please give a round of applause at the end of the presentation.
観客は俳優に盛大な拍手を送った。
The audience gave the actor a big round of applause.
彼のスピーチは何度も拍手で中断された。
His speech was interrupted by applause several times.
2Clapping the hands as part of a fixed ritual, such as at a Shinto shrine (also called kashiwade).
神社では二礼二拍手一礼の作法でお参りする。
At a shrine, you worship following the two-bows, two-claps, one-bow ritual.
参拝者たちは拍手を打って祈った。
The worshippers clapped their hands and prayed.