different between cheer vs applaud

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /t????(?)/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /t??i?/
• Rhymes: -??(?)

Etymology 1

From Middle English chere, from Old French chere, from Old French chiere, from Late Latin cara.

Noun

cheer (countable and uncountable, plural cheers)

1. (uncountable) A cheerful attitude; happiness; a good, happy, or positive mood. [from 14^thc.]
2. That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness; provisions prepared for a feast; entertainment.
3. A cry expressing joy, approval or support such as "hurray". [from 18^thc.]
4. A chant made in support of a team at a sports event.
5. (Canada, US) Cheerleading, especially when practiced as a competitive sport.

6. (obsolete) One's facial expression or countenance. [13^th-19^thc.]
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, V.7:

     ‘thorough evill rest of this last night, / Or ill apayd or much dismayd ye be; / That by your change of cheare is easie for to see.’

7. (archaic) One's attitude, mood. [from 14^thc.]
   • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Mark VI:

     And anon he talked with them, and sayde unto them: be of good chere, it is I, be not afrayed.

   • 1600, Philemon Holland, The Romane Historie

     The parents […] fled away with heavy cheer.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:applause

Derived terms

• Bronx cheer

Translations

Verb

cheer (third-person singular simple present cheers, present participle cheering, simple past and past participle cheered)

1. (transitive) To gladden; to make cheerful; often with up.

   We were cheered by the offer of a cup of tea.

2. (transitive) To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to inspirit; to solace or comfort.

   • The proud he tam'd, the penitent he cheer'd.

3. (transitive, intransitive) To applaud or encourage with cheers or shouts.

   The crowd cheered in support of the athletes.

   The crowd cheered the athletes.

Antonyms

• boo

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 2

Clipping of cheerleading.

Noun

cheer (uncountable)

1. Cheerleading.
   • 1999, Jim Lord and Chris Calvert. Cheerleading: Where Does Your Gym Fit In?.

     ...[P]erspective [sic] gym cheer programs must address how to support a cheer program while maintaining appropriate and safe skill progressions.

   • 2000, Linda Villarosa. Cheerleading Changes, and Injuries Increase in The New York Times.

     Last year, more than 75,000 high school participants took part in cheerleading competitions, and the National Federation of State High School Associations says that "competitive cheer" is the fastest growing sport for girls.

   • 2018, Chad Thompson. Iowa Central cheer team is tops at national competition in The Messenger.

     The Iowa Central Community College cheer team has achieved something no other college in Iowa has before.

Anagrams

• Erech, reech

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin applaudere (“to clap the hands together, applaud”), from ad (“to”) + plaudere (“to strike, clap”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??pl??d/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??pl?d/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /??pl?d/
• Rhymes: -??d

Noun

applaud (plural applauds)

1. (obsolete) Applause; applauding.
2. (obsolete) Plaudit.

Related terms

• applause

Verb

applaud (third-person singular simple present applauds, present participle applauding, simple past and past participle applauded)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To express approval (of something) by clapping the hands.

   After the performance, the audience applauded for five minutes.

2. (transitive, intransitive) To praise, or express approval for something or someone.

   Although we don't like your methods, we applaud your motives.

Synonyms

• beclap

Derived terms

• reapplaud

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• applaud in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• applaud in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• applaud at OneLook Dictionary Search