round of applause

IPA/ɹˈaʊnd ɒv ɐplˈɔːz/
IPA/ɹˈaʊnd ʌv ɐplˈɔːz/

round of applause — idiom

1. an occasion when a group of people clap their hands together for a while to show

1.idiomB1
Definition

an occasion when a group of people clap their hands together for a while to show that they like or are pleased with someone or something.

Example

The whole audience gave the young dancer a warm round of applause.

give someone a round of applause

When Faisal finished his speech, the room broke into a loud round of applause.

break into a round of applause

Common collocations
  • warm round of applause
  • big round of applause
  • loud round of applause
  • give someone a round of applause
Synonyms
  • ovation

    stronger and longer, often standing; reserved for outstanding performances

  • clapping

    the plain action word, without the sense of a shared group moment

Grammar Patterns

give someone a round of applause

get a round of applause

Usage Note

Almost always paired with 'give' (the clappers) or 'get' (the person praised), and frequently used as a direct call to an audience: 'Let's have a round of applause for…'.

Common Mistakes

The audience gave a round of applauses.
The audience gave a round of applause.
'applause' is uncountable, so it never takes a plural -s here.

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The phrase joins 'round', meaning one complete turn or burst of an activity shared by a group, with 'applause', from Latin 'applaudere' ('to clap the hands in approval'). The 'round' image is the same one used in 'a round of drinks' — something that passes through the whole group at once.