1. No wonder the loudest applause came from the claque.

2. Claque: a group of persons hired to applaud at a performance.

3. City College boosters made a point of belittling the influence of Jeffries' personal claque.

4. But, just as he did during the campaign, Obama has relied on only a tiny claque of trusted aides for advice on the major decisions confronting him.

5. Even on the set in Bangkok, he keeps to himself instead of leading the typical claque of assistants, stylists , photographers and publicists who trail after most Japanese celebrities.