clam

The definition of a clam is an animal that lives in shallow water with a hard shell and no backbone, or is slang for a U.S. dollar.

(noun)

An example of a clam is one of the main ingredients in the fish stew called cioppino.
An example of a clam is $1.

To clam is to go digging for clams.

(verb)

An example of clam is to dig for clams at low tide.

See clam in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. clams or clam

any of various hard-shell, usually edible, bivalve mollusks, some of which live in the shallows of the sea, others in fresh water
the soft, edible part of such a mollusk
Informal a reticent or taciturn person
☆ clamshell (sense )
☆ Slang
1. a dollar
2. Jazz a misplayed note

Origin: < obs. clam, clamp (< OE clamm, bond, fetter: for IE base see climb); with ref. to the action of the shells

intransitive verb clammed, clamming

to dig, or go digging, for clams

Related Forms:

See clam in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. Any of various usually burrowing marine and freshwater bivalve mollusks of the class Pelecypoda, including members of the genera Venus and Mya, many of which are edible.
b. The soft edible body of such a mollusk.
Informal A close-mouthed person, especially one who can keep a secret.
Slang A dollar: set me back 75 clams.