ovation

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: o=va=tion

CIDE DICTIONARY

ovation, n. [L. ovatio, fr. ovare to exult, rejoice, triumph in an ovation; cf. Gr. to shout: cf. F. ovation.].

•  A lesser kind of triumph allowed to a commander for an easy, bloodless victory, or a victory over slaves.  [1913 Webster]
•  An expression of popular homage; the tribute of the multitude to a public favorite.  [1913 Webster]

  "To rain an April of ovation round
  Their statues."  [1913 Webster]
•  A prolonged applause for a person of group after a speech or performance.  [PJC]

standing ovation a prolonged applause during which the audience stands as a sign of special appreciation or admiration.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

ovation, n.
1 an enthusiastic reception, esp. spontaneous and sustained applause.
2 Rom. Antiq. a lesser form of triumph.

Idiom

standing ovation prolonged applause during which the crowd or audience rise to their feet.

Derivative

ovational adj.

Etymology

L ovatio f. ovare exult

DEVIL DICTIONARY

ovation

n. n ancient Rome, a definite, formal pageant in honor of one who had been disserviceable to the enemies of the nation. A lesser "triumph." In modern English the word is improperly used to signify any loose and spontaneous expression of popular homage to the hero of the hour and place.

"I had an ovation!" the actor man said,
But I thought it uncommonly queer,
That people and critics by him had been led
By the ear.

The Latin lexicon makes his absurd
Assertion as plain as a peg;
In "ovum" we find the true root of the word.
It means egg.
Dudley Spink

THESAURUS

ovation

acclaim, acclamation, anniversaries, applause, big hand, burst of applause, celebrating, celebration, ceremony, cheer, cheering, cheers, clap, clapping, clapping of hands, commemoration, dressing ship, eclat, encore, fanfare, fanfaronade, festivity, flourish of trumpets, hand, handclap, handclapping, holiday, jubilee, kudos, laudation, marking the occasion, memorialization, memory, observance, plaudit, plaudits, popularity, praise, rejoicing, religious rites, remembrance, revel, rite, ritual observance, round of applause, salute, salvo, solemn observance, solemnization, testimonial, testimonial banquet, testimonial dinner, thunder of applause, toast, tribute, triumph

ROGET THESAURUS

ovation

Celebration

N celebration, solemnization, jubilee, commemoration, ovation, paean, triumph, jubilation, ceremony (rite), holiday, fiesta, zarabanda, revelry, feast (amusement), china anniversary, diamond anniversary, golden anniversary, silver anniversary, tin anniversary, china jubilee, diamond jubilee, golden jubilee, silver jubilee, tin jubilee, china wedding, diamond wedding, golden wedding, silver wedding, tin wedding, triumphal arch, bonfire, salute, salvo, salvo of artillery, feu de joie, flourish of trumpets, fanfare, colors flying, illuminations, inauguration, installation, presentation, coronation, Lord Mayor's show, harvest-home, red-letter day, trophy, Te Deum, fete, holiday, Forefathers' Day, celebrating, commemorative, celebrated, immortal, in honor of, in commemoration of, Int, hail!, all hail!, io paean, io triumphe!, see the conquering hero comes!.