clapboard
noun
clap·board
ˈkla-bərd 
ˈkla(p)-ˌbȯrd
ˈkla(p)-ˌbȯrd
1
archaic
: a size of board for making staves and wainscoting
2
: a narrow board usually thicker at one edge than the other used for siding
3
ˈklap-ˌbȯrd
: a pair of hinged boards one of which has a slate with data identifying a piece of film and which are banged together in front of a motion-picture camera at the start of a take to facilitate editing
: a pair of hinged boards one of which has a slate with data identifying a piece of film and which are banged together in front of a motion-picture camera at the start of a take to facilitate editing
called also clapper board
clapboard
transitive verb
Examples of clapboard in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
About 20 miles south of Boston, under a big maple near a white clapboard church, John Cheever is buried next to his parents and brother.
—
Adam Begley, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
Stores are set inside quaint-looking houses with porticoes and pastel-colored clapboard sidings.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The clapboard houses, lightship baskets, and roses climbing up the side of Sconset roofs inspired a sense of permanence.
—William D. Cohan, Air Mail, 23 Aug. 2025
Eureka Springs, Arkansas The entire downtown of Eureka Springs is part of the National Register of Historic Places: Admire the preserved Victorian architecture and make special note of Hatchet Hall, the former clapboard home of hatchet-wielding temperance movement leader Carry A. Nation.
—Ashlea Halpern, AFAR Media, 1 Aug. 2025
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Adam Begley, The Atlantic, 9 Sep. 2025
Stores are set inside quaint-looking houses with porticoes and pastel-colored clapboard sidings.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The clapboard houses, lightship baskets, and roses climbing up the side of Sconset roofs inspired a sense of permanence.
—William D. Cohan, Air Mail, 23 Aug. 2025
Eureka Springs, Arkansas The entire downtown of Eureka Springs is part of the National Register of Historic Places: Admire the preserved Victorian architecture and make special note of Hatchet Hall, the former clapboard home of hatchet-wielding temperance movement leader Carry A. Nation.
—Ashlea Halpern, AFAR Media, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clapboard
Cite this Entry
“Clapboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clapboard. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clapboard
noun
clap·board
ˈklab-ərd
ˈkla(p)-ˌbō(ə)rd
ˈkla(p)-ˌbō(ə)rd
-ˌbȯ(ə)rd
: a narrow board thicker at one edge than at the other used to cover the sides of wooden buildings
clapboard
verb
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