clapboard: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Semi-technical (construction, film), regional (chiefly North American for the building material).
Quick answer
What does “clapboard” mean?
A long, thin, flat piece of wood used for covering the outer walls of buildings, typically fixed horizontally with each board overlapping the one below.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long, thin, flat piece of wood used for covering the outer walls of buildings, typically fixed horizontally with each board overlapping the one below.
The term can also refer to the hinged pair of boards used in film production to record the scene and take number at the start of a shot (clapperboard). Additionally, as a verb, it means to cover a building with clapboard.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
For the building material, the term is primarily American. In the UK, this type of wooden siding is called 'weatherboard' or 'cladding'. For the film device, both varieties use 'clapperboard' (full form) or informally 'clapboard'.
Connotations
In AmE, the building material sense evokes traditional, often coastal or colonial-style architecture (e.g., New England). In BrE, the term is most readily associated with the film industry.
Frequency
The building material sense is high frequency in AmE architectural/DIY contexts, low frequency in BrE. The film sense is medium frequency internationally in relevant industries.
Grammar
How to Use “clapboard” in a Sentence
[VERB] + clapboard (obj.): 'They decided to clapboard the old barn.'[ADJ.] + clapboard + [NOUN]: 'a white clapboard church'Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clapboard” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They plan to weatherboard the extension, not clapboard it.
- The outbuilding was newly clad.
American English
- The carpenter will clapboard the garage next week.
- Many historic homes were clapboarded in cedar.
adjective
British English
- The film set featured a clapboard cottage facade.
- He held the clapboard slate.
American English
- We admired the clapboard churches along the coast.
- It's a classic clapboard colonial style.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In real estate listings (AmE): 'Charming 19th-century clapboard farmhouse.'
Academic
In architectural history: 'The proliferation of clapboard construction in colonial New England.'
Everyday
Low in everyday BrE. In AmE: 'We need to repaint the clapboard before winter.'
Technical
In construction: 'Install the clapboard with a 1-inch overlap.' In film: 'Marker on clapboard for sync.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clapboard”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clapboard”
- Mispronouncing the building material sense as /ˈklæpˌbɔːrd/ (should be /ˈklæbərd/ in AmE).
- Using 'clapboard' for interior paneling.
- Spelling as 'clap bord' or 'clapboard'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In film, yes, 'clapboard' is a common short form for 'clapperboard'. However, the primary American meaning is a type of wooden siding for houses.
In American English, it's pronounced /ˈklæbərd/ (sounds like 'clabbered'). The 'p' is silent. The film term is more often pronounced with the /p/.
The most common term is 'weatherboarding' or simply 'weatherboard'. The specific type is often 'feather-edge board'.
Yes, primarily in American English. E.g., 'They clapboarded the cottage.' It means to fit or cover with clapboards.
A long, thin, flat piece of wood used for covering the outer walls of buildings, typically fixed horizontally with each board overlapping the one below.
Clapboard is usually semi-technical (construction, film), regional (chiefly north american for the building material). in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the CLAP of two boards coming together in a film slate, or the sound of wind CLAPping against wooden boards on a house.
Conceptual Metaphor
SHELL/SKIN (for building): The clapboard is the protective outer skin of the building.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'clapboard' LEAST likely to be used in British English?