Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Claptrap

Clap′trapˊ

(klăp′trăpˊ)

,

Noun.

1.

A contrivance for clapping in theaters.

[Obs.]

Clap′trapˊ

,

Adj.

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

Definition 2024

claptrap

claptrap

English

Alternative forms

clap trap
clap-trap

Noun

claptrap ‎(countable and uncountable, plural claptraps)

Empty verbiage or nonsense. [from early 19th c.]
(historical) A device for producing a clapping sound in theaters.
A trick or device to gain applause; humbug.

Synonyms

See Wikisaurus:nonsense
(overabundance of meaningless words): waffle, hot air, palaver

Translations

empty verbiage or nonsense

Catalan: galimaties (ca) m, embull (ca) m, embrolla f, algaravia f
Czech: cancy m pl
Dutch: Bombast, Holle frasen,
Finnish: hölynpöly (fi), humpuuki (fi), höpönpöpö
French: verbiage (fr), charabia (fr), galimatias (fr)
German: Gerede (de) n, Geschwätz (de) n, Gequatsche (de) n

Italian: sproloquio (it)
Maori: kohe, ngutungutuahi, kutukutuahi
Polish: mowa-trawa, pustosłowie
Russian: чепуха́ (ru) f ‎(čepuxá)
Serbo-Croatian: (spoken nonsense) bljezgarije (sh) f pl, glupost (sh) f
Spanish: algarabía, verborrea (es), galimatías (es) , palabrería (es)
Turkish: palavra (tr)