clam

¹

[klam]

noun

1. any of various bivalve mollusks, especially certain edible species.

2. Informal.,  a secretive or silent person.

3. clamminess.

4. Slang.,  a dollar or the sum of a dollar.

   I only made 60 clams a week.

verb (used without object)

clammed, clamming 

1. to gather or dig clams.

verb phrase

1. clam up,  to refuse to talk or reply; refrain from talking or divulging information.

   The teacher asked who had thrown the eraser, but the class clammed up.

clam

²

[klam]

noun

1. British Dialect.,  clamp.

2. Machinery.,  (formerly) pincers.

clam

¹

/ klæm /

noun

1. any of various burrowing bivalve molluscs of the genera Mya, Venus, etc. Many species, such as the quahog and soft-shell clam, are edible and Tridacna gigas is the largest known bivalve, nearly 1.5 metres long

2. the edible flesh of such a mollusc

3. informal,  a reticent person

verb

1. (intr) to gather clams

clam

²

/ klæm /

verb

1. a variant of clem

Other Word Forms

• clamlike adjective
• clammer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of clam¹

First recorded in 1500–10; short for clam-shell, i.e., bivalve with a shell that clamps; clam ², shell

Origin of clam²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English, derivative of clam(m), clom(m), “fetter, clasp, bandage”; cognate with German Klamm “fetter, constriction”; akin to clamp

Word History and Origins

Origin of clam¹

C16: from earlier clamshell, that is, shell that clamps; related to Old English clamm fetter, Old High German klamma constriction; see _clamp ¹

Idioms and Phrases

• happy as the day is long (as a clam)

Example Sentences

The script works in as many callbacks as possible: spooky mannequins under plastic sheeting, tacky parade floats with giant fiberglass clams, Hewitt hollering her memorable line: “What are you waiting for?”

From Los Angeles Times

The best brunches in L.A. include seafood towers at a Virgil Village clam shack, live jazz and bottomless mimosas in Sherman Oaks and tableside cinnamon rolls and Bloody Marys in Brentwood, plus much more.

From Los Angeles Times

Lydia made the clam chowder for which we were somewhat famous, and during service dished out the vegetables and side dishes.

From Salon

But some, including a clam that is the world's longest living animal, could struggle to adapt.

From BBC

The deal also benefits shellfish producers after the EU banned British fishermen from selling live mussels, oysters, clams, cockles and scallops to its member states in 2021.

From BBC

Related Words

• mollusk