gesture vs applaud

gesture is a noun but applaud is not a noun.

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

As verbs, applaud is a hyponym of gesture; that is, applaud is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than gesture:

gesture (noun)	applaud (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

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