clam Hear it!

clam Definition

clam (klam)

noun pl. clams or clam

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

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

intransitive verb clammed, clamming clam′·ming

to dig, or go digging, for clams

Related Forms:

clam Idioms

clam up

☆
Informal to keep silent or refuse to talk
clam Synonyms

clam

n.

bivalve, mollusk, shellfish; see shellfish.

Types of clams include: soft-shell, hard-shell, steamer, quahog, quahaug, cherrystone, littleneck, marine, sea, freshwater, surf, hen, thorny, giant, razor, pismo, geoduck.

clam Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • remain: There were still 7 minutes remaining and everyone, not least the players, needed to remain clam but how could you?
  • have: If you have been employed in one of the industries mentioned above, then you could have a very strong clam.

Adjective modifier

  • giant: At the bottom of the ocean we saw a giant clam next to a box of treasure.
  • poor: Do you feel very sad, and say ' ' poor clam ' ' ?

Modifies a noun

  • chowder: Boston, one of the oldest seaports in America, makes what the locals consider the finest clam chowder in the United States.
  • shell: They prop them open with sticks during the day, looking like giant clam shells, then drop them down at night.
  • design: Samsung first impressed us with the clam shell design with it's silver, designer looking sleekness.
  • juice: Stir in the clam juice or fish stock off the heat.
  • phone: Rating: Reviewed by Clare from UK on 8th Jan 2005 Love this phone, no more bulky than some clam phones.
  • type: To the right, around the corner is a clam type thing with a pearl in it's mouth.

Noun used with modifier

  • razor: How many inches down can a razor clam dig in a minute?