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"applaud" is also used as a crossword clue. If that's what you saw, the answer is often clap (4 letters).
Definitions
express that something is worthy of praise
Word origin
From Middle English applauden, from Latin applaudere (“to clap the hands together, applaud”), from ad (“to”) + plaudere (“to strike, clap”).
Used in a sentence
“After the performance, the audience applauded for five minutes.”
“Although we don't like your methods, we applaud your motives.”
“Now by the Gods, I do applaude his courage.”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer1 curated clues
01“Clap in approval”7 letters
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