applaud vs gesture

applaud is not a noun while gesture is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
applaud	No	No	Yes	No
gesture	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, gesture is a hypernym of applaud; that is, gesture is a word with a broader meaning than applaud:

Other hypernyms of applaud include gesticulate, motion.

applaud (noun)	gesture (noun)
	motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
	something done as an indication of intention
	the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

applaud (verb)	gesture (verb)
express that something is worthy of praise	show, express or direct through movement
clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval