1. Something rigid that holds fast or binds things together; a piece of wood or metal, used to hold two or more pieces together.

2. (a) An instrument with a screw or screws by which work is held in its place or two parts are temporarily held together. (b) (Joinery) A piece of wood placed across another, or inserted into another, to bind or strengthen.

3. One of a pair of movable pieces of lead, or other soft material, to cover the jaws of a vise and enable it to grasp without bruising.

4. (Shipbuilding) A thick plank on the inner part of a ship's side, used to sustuan the ends of beams.

5. A mass of bricks heaped up to be burned; or of ore for roasting, or of coal coking.

6. A mollusk. See Clam. [Obs.]

Clamp nails, nails used to fasten on clamps in ships.

Clamp

Clamp (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clamped (?; 215) p. pr. & vb. n. Clamping.]

1. To fasten with a clamp or clamps; to apply a clamp to; to place in a clamp.

2. To cover, as vegetables, with earth. [Eng.]

Clamp

Clamp, n. [Prob. an imitative word. Cf.Clank.] A heavy footstep; a tramp.

Clamp

Clamp, v. i. To tread heavily or clumsily; to clump.

The policeman with clamping feet. Thackeray.

Clamper

Clamp"er (?), n. An instrument of iron, with sharp prongs, attached to a boot or shoe to enable the wearer to walk securely upon ice; a creeper. Kane.

Clan

Clan (?), n. [Gael. clann offspring, descendants; akin to Ir. clann, cland, offspring, tribe, family; perh. from L. plania scion, slip, cutting. Cf. Plant, n.]

1. A tribe or collection of families, united under a chieftain, regarded as having the same common ancestor, and bearing the same surname; as, the clan of Macdonald. I have marshaled my clan." Campbell.

2. A clique; a sect, society, or body of persons; esp., a body of persons united by some common interest or pursuit; -- sometimes used contemptuously.

Partidge and the rest of his clan may hoot me. Smolett.

The whole clan of the enlightened among us. Burke.

Clancular

Clan"cu*lar (?), a. [L. clancularius , from clanculum secretly, adv. dim. of clam secretly.] Conducted with secrecy; clandestine; concealed. [Obs.]

Not close and clancular, but frank and open. Barrow.

Clancularly

Clan"cu*lar*ly, adv. privately; secretly. [Obs.]

Clandestine

Clan*des"tine (?), a. [L. clandestinus, fr. clam secretly; akin to celare, E. conceal: cf. F. clandestin.] Conducted with secrecy; withdrawn from public notice, usually for an evil purpose; kept secret; hidden; private; underhand; as, a clandestine marriage. Locke. Syn. -- Hidden; secret; private; concealed; underhand; sly; stealthy; surreptitious; furtive; fraudulent. -- Clan*des"tine*ly, adv. -- Clan*des"tine*ness, n.

Clandestinity

Clan`des*tin"i*ty (?), n. Privacy or secrecy. [R.]

Clang

Clang (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clanged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Clanging.] [L. clangere; akin to Gr. to clash, scream; or perh. to E. clank.] To strike together so as to produce a ringing metallic sound.

The fierce Caretes . . . clanged their sounding arms. Prior.

Clang

Clang, v. i. To give out a clang; to resound. Clanging hoofs." Tennyson.

Clang

Clang, n.

1. A loud, ringing sound, like that made by metallic substances when clanged or struck together.

The broadsword's deadly clang, As if a thousand anvils rang. Sir W. Scott.

2. (Mus.) Qualyty of tone.

Clangor

Clan"gor (?), n. [L., fr. clangere. See Clang, v. t.] A sharp, harsh, ringing sound. Dryden.

Clangorous

Clan"gor*ous (?), a. [LL. clangorosus.] Making a clangor; having a ringing, metallic sound.

Clangous

Clan"gous (?), a. Making a clang, or a ringing metallic sound. [Obs.]

Clanjamfrie

Clan*jam"frie (?), n. Same as Clamjamphrie. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

Clank

Clank (?), n. [Akin to clink, and of imitative origin; cf. G. klang sound, D. klank. Cf. Clang.] A sharp, brief, ringing sound, made by a collision of metallic or other sonorous bodies; -- usually expressing a duller or less resounding sound than clang, and a deeper and stronger sound than clink.

But not in chains to pine, His spirit withered with tyeur clank. Byron.

Clank

Clank, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clanked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Clanking.] To cause to sound with a clank; as, the prisoners clank their chains.

Clank

Clank, v. i. To sound with a clank.

Clankless

Clank"less, a. Without a clank. Byreon.

Clannish

Clan"nish (?), a. Of or pertaining to a clan; closely united, like a clan; disposed to associate only with one's clan or clique; actuated by the traditions, prejudices, habits, etc., of a clan. -- Clan"nish*ly, adv. -- Clan"nish*ness, n.

Clanship

Clan"ship, n. A state of being united togheter as in a clan; an association under a chieftain.

Clansman

Clans"man (?), n.; pl. Clansmen (#). One belonging to the same clan with another.

Clap

Clap (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clapped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Clapping.] [AS. clappan; akin to Icel. & Sw. klappa, D, klappen, to clap, prate, G. klaffen, v.i., to split open, yelp, klopfen, v.t. & i., to knock.]

1. To strike; to slap; to strike, or strike together, with a quick motion, so, as to make a sharp noise; as, to clap one's hands; a clapping of wings.

Then like a bird it sits and sings, And whets and claps its silver wings. Marvell.

2. To thrust, drive, put, or close, in a hasty or abrupt manner; -- often followed by to, into, on, or upon.

He had just time to get in and clap to the door. Locke

Clap an extinguaisher upon your irony. Lamb.

3. To manifest approbation of, by striking the hands together; to applaud; as, to clap a performance. To clap hands. (a) To pledge faith by joining hands. [Obs.] Shak. (b) To express contempt or derision. [Obs.] Lam. ii. 15. To clap hold of, to seize roughly or quickly. -- To clap up. (a) To imprison hastily or without due formality. (b) To make or contrive hastily. [Obs.] Was ever match clapped up so suddenly?" Shak.

Clap

Clap (?), v. i.

1. To knock, as at a door. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. To strike the hands together in applause.

Their ladies bid them clap. Shak.

3. To come together suddenly with noise.

The doors around me clapped. Dryden.

4. To enter with alacrity and briskness; -- with to or into. [Obs.] Shall we clap into it roundly, without . . . saying we are hoarse?" Shak.

5. To talk noisily; to chatter loudly. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Clap

Clap (?), n.

1. A loud noise made by sudden collision; a bang. Give the door such a clap, as you go out, as will shake the whole room." Swift.

2. A burst of sound; a sudden explosion.

Horrible claps of thunder. Hakewill.

3. A single, sudden act or motion; a stroke; a blow.

What, fifty of my followers at a clap! Shak.

4. A striking of hands to express approbation.

Unextrected claps or hisses. Addison.

5. Noisy talk; chatter. [Obs.] Chaucer.

6. (Falconry) The nether part of the beak of a hawk. Clap dish. See Clack dish, under Clack, n. -- Clap net, a net for taking birds, made to close or clap together.

Clap

Clap (?), n. [Cf. OF. clapoir.] Gonorrhea.

Clapboard

Clap"board (?), n.

1. A narrow board, thicker at one edge than at the other; -- used for weatherboarding the outside of houses. [U. S.]

2. A stave for a cask. [Eng.] Halliwell.

Clapboard

Clap"board, v. t. To cover with clapboards; as, to clapboard the sides of a house. [U. S.] Bartlett.

Clapbread, Clapcake

Clap"bread` (?), Clap"cake` (?), n. Oatmeal cake or bread clapped or beaten till it is thin. [Obs.] Halliwell.

Clape

Clape (?), n. (Zoöl.) A bird; the flicker.

Clapper

Clap"per (?), n.

1. A person who claps.

2. That which strikes or claps, as the tongue of a bell, or the piece of wood that strikes a mill hopper, etc. See Illust. of Bell. Clapper rail (Zoöl.), an Americam species of rail (Rallus scepitans).

Clapper

Clap"per, n. [F. clapier.] A rabbit burrow. [Obs.]

Clapperclaw

Clap"per*claw (?), v. t. [Clap + claw.]

1. To fight and scratch. C. Smart.

2. To abuse with the tongue; to revile; to scold.

Claps

Claps (?), v. t. Variant of Clasp [Obs.] Chaucer.

Claptrap

Clap"trap` (?), n.

1. A contrivance for clapping in theaters. [Obs.]

2. A trick or device to gain applause; humbug.

Claptrap

Clap"trap`, a. Contrived for the purpose of making a show, or gaining applause; deceptive; unreal.

Claque

Claque (?), n. [F.] A collection of persons employed to applaud at a theatrical exhibition.

Claqueur

Cla`queur" (?), n. [F.] One of the claque employed to applaud at a theater.

Clare

Clare (?), n. A nun of the order of St.Clare.

Clarence

Clar"ence (?), n. A close four-wheeled carriage, with one seat inside, and a seat for the driver.

Clarenceux, Clarencieux

Clar"en*ceux, Clar"en*cieux (?), n. (Her.) See King-at-arms.

Clarendon

Clar"en*don (?), n. A style of type having a narrow and heave face. It is made in all sizes. &hand; This line is in nonpareil Clarendon.

Clare-obscure

Clare"-ob*scure" (?), n. [L. clarus clear + obscurus obscure; cf. F. clair-obscur. Cf. Chiaroscuro.] (Painting) See Chiaroscuro.

Claret

Clar"et (?), n. [OE. claret, clare, clarry, OF. claret, clar, fr. cler, F. clair, clear, fr. L. clarus clear. See Clear.] The name firat given in England to the red wines of Mdoc, in France, and afterwards extended to all the red Bordeaux wines. The name is also given to similar wines made in the United States.

Claribella

Clar`i*bel"la (?), n. [NL., from L. clarus clear + bellus fine.] (Mus.) A soft, sweet stop, or set of open wood pipes in an organ.

Clarichord

Clar"i*chord (?), n. [F. clatocorde, fr.L. clarus clear + chorda string. See Chord.] A musical instrument, formerly in use, in form of a spinet; -- called also manichord and clavichord.

Clarification

Clar`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. clarification, L. clarificatio glorification.]

1. The act or process of making clear or transparent, by freeing visible impurities; as, the clarification of wine.

2. The act of freeing from obscurities.

The clarification of men's ideas. Whewell.

Clarifier

Clar"i*fi`er (?), n.

1. That which clarifies.

2. A vessel in which the process of clarification is conducted; as, the clarifier in sugar works. Ure.

Clarify

Clar"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clarified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Clarifying.] [F. clarifier, from L. clarificare; clarus clear + facere to make. See Clear, and Fact.]

1. To make clear or bright by freeing from feculent matter; to defecate; to fine; -- said of liquids, as wine or sirup. Boiled and clarified." Ure.

2. To make clear; to free from obscurities; to brighten or illuminate.

To clarify his reason, and to rectify his will. South.

3. To glorify. [Obs.]

Fadir, clarifie thi name. Wyclif (John ii. 28).

Clarify

Clar"i*fy, v. i.

1. To grow or become clear or transparent; to become free from feculent impurities, as wine or other liquid under clarification.

2. To grow clear or bright; to clear up.

Whosoever hath his mind fraught with many thoughts, his wits and understanding do clarify and break up in the discoursing with another. Bacon.

Clarigate

Clar"i*gate (?), v. i. [L. clarigare] To declare war with certain ceremonies. [Obs.] Holland.

Clarinet

Clar"i*net` (?), n. [F. clarinette, dim. of clarine, from L. clarus. See Clear, and cf. Clarion.] (Mus.) A wind instrument, blown by a single reed, of richer and fuller tone than the oboe, which has a double reed. It is the leading instrument in a military band. [Often improperly called clarionet.]

Clarino

Cla*ri"no (?), n. [It. a trumpet.] (Mus.) A reed stop in an organ.

Clarion

Clar"i*on (?), n. [OE. clarioun, OF. clarion, F. clairon, LL. clario, claro; so called from its clear tone, fr. L. clarus clear. See Clear.] A kind of trumpet, whose note is clear and shrill.

He sounds his imperial clarion along the whole line of battle. E. Everett.

Clarionet

Clar`i*o*net" (?), n. [See Clarion, Clarinet.] (Mus.) See Clarinet.

Clarisonus

Cla*ris"o*nus (?), a. [L. clarisonus; clarus + sonus.] Having a clear sound. [Obs.] Ash.

Claritude

Clar"i*tude (?), n. [L. claritudo, fr. clarus clear.] Clearness; splendor. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Clarity

Clar"i*ty (?), n. [L. claritas, fr. clarus clear: cf. F. clarté.] Clearness; brightness; splendor.

Floods, in whose more than crystal clarity, Innumerable virgin graces row. Beaumont.

Claro-obscuro

Cla"ro-ob*scu"ro (?), n. See Chiaroscuro.

Clarré

Clar`ré", n. [See Claret.] Wine with a mixture of honey and species. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Clart

Clart (?), v. t. [Cf. Armor. kalar mud, mire, kalara to dirt, Sw. lort mud.] To daub, smear, or spread, as with mud, etc. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Clarty

Clart"y (?), a. Sticky and foul; muddy; filthy; dirty. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Clary

Clar"y (?), v. i. [Cf. Clarion.] To make a loud or shrill noise. [Obs.] Golding.

Clary

Cla"ry (?), n. [Cf. LL. sclarea, scarlea, D. & G. scharlei, F. sclarée.] (Bot.) A plant (Salvia sclarea) of the Sage family, used in flavoring soups. Clary water, a composition of clary flowers with brandy, etc., formerly used as a cardiac.

Clash

Clash (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clashed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Clashing.] [Of imitative origin; cf. G. klatschen, Prov. G. kleschen, D. kletsen, Dan. klaske, E. clack.]

1. To make a noise by striking against something; to dash noisily together.

2. To meet in opposition; to act in a contrary direction; to come onto collision; to interfere.

However some of his interests might clash with those of the chief adjacent colony. Palfrey.

Clash

Clash, v. t. To strike noisily against or together.

Clash

Clash n.

1. A loud noise resulting from collision; a noisy collision of bodies; a collision.

The roll of cannon and clash of arms. Tennyson.

2. Opposition; contradiction; as between differing or contending interests, views, purposes, etc.

Clashes between popes and kings. Denham.

Clashingly

Clash"ing*ly, adv. With clashing.

Clasp

Clasp (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clasped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Clasping] [OE. claspen, clapsen, prob. akin to E. clap.]

1. To shut or fasten together with, or as with, a clasp; to shut or fasten (a clasp, or that which fastens with a clasp).

2. To inclose and hold in the hand or with the arms; to grasp; to embrace.

3. To surround and cling to; to entwine about. Clasping ivy." Milton.

Clasp

Clasp, n.

1. An adjustable catch, bent plate, or hook, for holding together two objects or the parts of anything, as the ends of a belt, the covers of a book, etc.

2. A close embrace; a throwing of the arms around; a grasping, as with the hand. Clasp knife, a large knife, the blade of which folds or shuts into the handle. -- Clasp lock, a lock which closes or secures itself by means of a spring.

Clasper

Clasp"er (?), n.

1. One who, or that which, clasps, as a tendril. The claspers of vines." Derham.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) One of a pair of organs used by the male for grasping the female among many of the Crustacea. (b) One of a pair of male copulatory organs, developed on the anterior side of the ventral fins of sharks and other elasmobranchs. See Illust. of Chimæra.

Claspered

Clasp"ered (?), a. Furnished with tendrils.

Class

Class (?), n. [F. classe, fr. L. classis class, collection, fleet; akin to Gr. a calling, to call, E. claim, haul.]

1. A group of individuals ranked together as possessing common characteristics; as, the different classes of society; the educated class; the lower classes.

2. A number of students in a school or college, of the same standing, or pursuing the same studies.

3. A comprehensive division of animate or inanimate objects, grouped together on account of their common characteristics, in any classification in natural science, and subdivided into orders, families, tribes, gemera, etc.

4. A set; a kind or description, species or variety.

She had lost one class energies. Macaulay.

5. (Methodist Church) One of the sections into which a church or congregation is divided, and which is under the supervision of a class leader. Class of a curve (Math.), the kind of a curve as expressed by the number of tangents that can be drawn from any point to the curve. A circle is of the second class. -- Class meeting (Methodist Church), a meeting of a class under the charge of a class leader, for counsel and relegious instruction.

Class

Class (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Classed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Classing.] [Cf. F. classer. See Class, n.]

1. To arrange in classes; to classify or refer to some class; as, to class words or passages. &hand; In scientific arrangement, to classify is used instead of to class. Dana.

2. To divide into classes, as students; to form into, or place in, a class or classes.

Class

Class, v. i. To grouped or classed.

The genus or famiky under which it classes. Tatham.

Classible

Class"i*ble (?), a. Capable of being classed.

Classic, Classical

Clas"sic (?), Clas"sic*al (?), a. [L. classicus relating to the classes of the Roman people, and especially to the frist class; hence, of the first rank, superior, from classis class: cf. F. classique. See Class, n.]

1. Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.

Give, as thy last memorial to the age, One classic drama, and reform the stage. Byron.

Mr. Greaves may justly be reckoned a classical author on this subject [Roman weights and coins]. Arbuthnot.

2. Of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans, esp. to Greek or Roman authors of the highest rank, or of the period when their best literature was produced; of or pertaining to places inhabited by the ancient Greeks and Romans, or rendered famous by their deeds.

Though throned midst Latium's classic plains. Mrs. Hemans.

The epithet classical, as applied to ancient authors, is determined less by the purity of their style than by the period at which they wrote. Brande & C.

He [Atterbury] directed the classical studies of the undergraduates of his college. Macaulay.

3. Conforming to the best authority in literature and art; chaste; pure; refined; as, a classical style.

Classical, provincial, and national synods. Macaulay.

Classicals orders. (Arch.) See under Order.

Classic

Clas"sic, n.

1. A work of acknowledged excellence and authrity, or its author; -- originally used of Greek and Latin works or authors, but now applied to authors and works of a like character in any language.

In is once raised him to the rank of a legitimate English classic. Macaulay.

2. One learned in the literature of Greece and Rome, or a student of classical literature.

Classicalism

Clas"sic*al*ism (?), n.

1. A classical idiom, style, or expression; a classicism.

2. Adherence to what are supposed or assumed to be the classical canons of art.

Classicalist

Clas"sic*al*ist, n. One who adheres to what he thinks the classical canons of art. Ruskin.

Classicality, Classicalness

Clas`si*cal"i*ty (?), Clas"sic*al*ness (?), n. The quality of being classical.

Classically

Clas"sic*al*ly, adv.

1. In a classical manner; according to the manner of classical authors.

2. In the manner of classes; according to a regular order of classes or sets.

Classicism

Clas"si*cism (?), n. A classic idiom or expression; a classicalism. C. Kingsley.

Classicist

Clas"si*cist (?), n. One learned in the classics; an advocate for the classics.

Classifiable

Clas"si*fi`a*ble (?), a. Capable of being classified.

Classific

Clas*sif"ic (?), a. Characterizing a class or classes; relating to classification.

Classification

Clas`si*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. classification.] The act of forming into a class or classes; a distibution into groups, as classes, orders, families, etc., according to some common relations or affinities. Artificial classification. (Science) See under Artifitial.

Classificatory

Clas"si*fi*ca`to*ry (?), a. Pertaining to classification; admitting of classification. A classificatory system." Earle.

Classifier

Clas"si*fi`er (?), n. One who classifies.

Classify

Clas"si*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & pp. Classified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Classifying.] [L. classis class + ] To distribute into classes; to arrange according to a system; to arrnge in sets according to some method founded on common properties or characters. Syn. -- To arrange; distibute; rank.

Classis

Clas"sis (?), n.; pl. Classes (#). [L. See Class, n.]

1. A class or order; sort; kind. [Obs.]

His opinion of that classis of men. Clarendon.

2. (Eccl.) An ecclesiastical body or judicatry in certain churches, as the Reformed Dutch. It is intermediate between the consistory and the synod, and corresponds to the presbutery in the Presbuterian church.

Classman

Class"man (?), n.; pl. Classmen(#).

1. A member of a class; a classmate.

2. A candidate for graduation in arts who is placed in an honor class, as opposed to a passman, who is not classified. [Oxford, Eng.]

Classmate

Class"mate` (?), n. One who is in the same class with another, as at school or college.

Clastic

Clas"tic (?), a. [Gr. br, fr. to break.]

1. Pertaining to what may be taken apart; as, clastic anatomy (of models).

2. (Min.) Fragmental; made up of brok fragments; as, sandstone is a clastic rock.

Clathrate

Clath"rate (?), a. [L. clathri lattie, Gr. .]

1. (Bot.) Shaped like a lattice; cancellate. Gray.

2. (Zoöl.) Having the surface marked with raised lines resembling a lattice, as many shells.

Clatter

Clat"ter (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clattered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Clattering.] [AS. clarung a rattle, akin to D. klateren to rattle. Cf. Clack.]

1. To make a rattling sound by striking hard bodies together; to make a succession of abrupt, rattling sounds.

Clattering loud with clamk. Longfellow.

2. To talk fast and noisily; to rattle with the tongue.

I see thou dost but clatter. Spenser.

Clatter

Clat"ter, v. t. To make a rattling noise with.

You clatter still your brazen kettle. Swift.

Clatter

Clat"ter, n.

1. A rattling noise, esp. that made by the collision of hard bodies; also, any loud, abrupt sound; a repetition of abrupt sounds.

The goose let fall a golden egg With cackle and with clatter. Tennyson.

2. Commotion; disturbance. Those mighty feats which made such a clatter in story."<-- sic. = history?--> Barrow.