Illustration of clam
- a incurrent orifice
- b siphon
- c excurrent orifice
- d mantle
- e shell
- f foot
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
4
informal
: dollar sense 3
Synonyms
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
Travel + Leisure Staff, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2025
There are funky shapes, like a mushroom or a clam, and abstract silhouettes, like Bottega Veneta’s nappa leather key ring.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2025
Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2025
One of my goals for 2024 was to do more fishing, crabbing and clamming.
—Chloe Sorvino, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for clam 
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Noun
Menu items include sea urchin bruschettas, fresh clams, and oodles of oysters, all served on communal wooden tables overlooking the vineyards.
—Travel + Leisure Staff, Travel + Leisure, 4 Feb. 2025
There are funky shapes, like a mushroom or a clam, and abstract silhouettes, like Bottega Veneta’s nappa leather key ring.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
Spend a day out on the water with a boat and gear rentals for crabbing or clamming.
—Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2025
One of my goals for 2024 was to do more fishing, crabbing and clamming.
—Chloe Sorvino, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for clam
Dictionary Entries Near clam
Cite this Entry
“Clam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clam. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clam
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
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