clam

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈklam 

: clamp, clasp

clam

2 of 3

noun (2)

often attributive

1

a

: any of numerous edible marine bivalve mollusks living in sand or mud

b

: a freshwater mussel

2

: a stolid or closemouthed person

3

: clamshell

4

informal : dollar sense 3

Illustration of clam

• a incurrent orifice
• b siphon
• c excurrent orifice
• d mantle
• e shell
• f foot

clam

3 of 3

verb

clammed; clamming

intransitive verb

: to gather clams especially by digging

clammer

ˈkla-mər 

noun

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• bone [slang]
• buck
• dollar
• one
• smacker [slang]

Examples of clam in a Sentence

Noun (2)

it must take a whole lot of clams to buy a car like that

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Starters include crispy crab cakes, shrimp cocktails and New England-style clam chowder, and dessert options include blueberry cheesecake and apple tart a la mode. —Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 13 June 2024

National Geographic for Disney/Adam Geiger Woody Spark uses the underwater camera-and-slider system to film a Coconut octopus sheltering between clam shells. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 21 Apr. 2024

The dinner menu centers on the Amalfi Coast — think linguine with clams and whole branzino that Morra recommends with Casa d’Ambra’s Le Ninfe white blend. —Kendyl Kearly, Baltimore Sun, 26 Feb. 2024

The total global volume of fish, shrimp, clams and other aquatic animals that are harvested by farming has topped the amount fished in the wild from the world’s waters for the first time ever, the United Nations reported Friday. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 8 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English clamm bond, fetter; akin to Old High German klamma constriction and perhaps to Latin glomus ball

Noun (2)

clam entry 1; from the clamping action of the shells

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1636, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing clam

• (as) happy as a clam
• butter clam
• clam up
• clam worm
• giant clam
• hard clam
• hard-shell clam
• Manhattan clam chowder
• pismo clam
• razor clam
• round clam
• soft-shell clam
• surf clam

Kids Definition

clam

1 of 2 noun

ˈklam 

1

: any of numerous edible marine mollusks that have two hinged shells and live in sand or mud

2

: a freshwater mussel

clam

2 of 2 verb

clammed; clamming

: to dig or gather clams