claque (2009-06-10)

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: ['klæk]

Definition: People at the theatre paid to applaud or react in the way the producers want the audience to react, a kind of crowd seeding; a clique of subservient supporters.

Usage: "Tom and Ray Magliozzi of 'Car Talk' have a clique and a claque following their radio show in France," would mean that some of the people who follow the Tappet Brothers are independent-minded, just united by their love of the brothers' lubricating wit, while others follow them blindly. "We were having a substantive discussion when the boss and his claque of toadies came in and derailed it."

Suggested Usage: A "clique" is an exclusive group of people united by a common interest. A "claque" is an exclusive group whose interest is provided by those who rent them.

Etymology: French claque "a clap" itself of onomatopoetic (imitative) origin.