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
Mike Deehan, Axios, 23 Sep. 2024
This includes baked clams in a brodo with some Sullivan Street filone to sop it up.
—Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2024
In the new study, the researchers solved this discrepancy by factoring in a quirk of clam behavior: there is evidence that clams might inflate and deflate their mantle throughout the day.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 1 Aug. 2024
Each year when autumn rolls around, visitors from across the country flock to New England in search of clam chowder, scenery, and colorful foliage—but a select group flocks to Salem, Massachusetts in search of a history that makes your hair stand on end.
—Todd Plummer, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clam 
Noun
Most of us have had our share of lobster rolls, clam chowder, Boston Cream Pie and Dunkin's formerly namesake doughnuts.
—Mike Deehan, Axios, 23 Sep. 2024
This includes baked clams in a brodo with some Sullivan Street filone to sop it up.
—Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2024
In the new study, the researchers solved this discrepancy by factoring in a quirk of clam behavior: there is evidence that clams might inflate and deflate their mantle throughout the day.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 1 Aug. 2024
Each year when autumn rolls around, visitors from across the country flock to New England in search of clam chowder, scenery, and colorful foliage—but a select group flocks to Salem, Massachusetts in search of a history that makes your hair stand on end.
—Todd Plummer, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for clam
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clam.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near clam
Cite this Entry
“Clam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clam. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
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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