clam
klam
Clam (noun) means an edible shellfish with two hinged shells, found buried in sand or mud. Example: “We dug for clams along the shoreline at low tide.”
noun
1
An edible shellfish with two hinged shells, found buried in sand or mud.
"We dug for clams along the shoreline at low tide."
"The soup was full of tender clams."
2
Informal: a dollar.
"That jacket cost me fifty clams."
verb
1
To go silent or refuse to speak, especially used as "clam up."
"He clammed up as soon as the police started asking questions."
How to use clam
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shellfish with a hinged shell — or, informally, a dollar, or (as "clam up") to suddenly stop talking.
Common pairings
clam up
dig for clams
clam chowder
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Word forms
- Plural
- clams
- Third person singular
- clams
- Past tense
- clammed
- Comparative
- clammer
- Superlative
- clammest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We dug for _____ along the shoreline at low tide.
Etymology
From Old English clam ("bond, grip"), related to a word meaning to press or squeeze together — the shellfish sense comes from how tightly its shell clamps shut.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for clam
See all rhymes for clam →Frequently asked questions
What does “clam” mean?
The word “clam” means an edible shellfish with two hinged shells, found buried in sand or mud. In plain terms, a shellfish with a hinged shell — or, informally, a dollar, or (as "clam up") to suddenly stop talking.
How do you pronounce “clam”?
“Clam” is pronounced klam (/klæm/ in IPA).
How do you use “clam” in a sentence?
Here is “clam” used in a sentence: “We dug for clams along the shoreline at low tide.”
What part of speech is “clam”?
Depending on how it is used, “clam” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “clam” come from?
The word “clam” comes from Old English. From Old English clam ("bond, grip"), related to a word meaning to press or squeeze together — the shellfish sense comes from how tightly its shell clamps shut.
Is “clam” a common word?
“Clam” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “clam” have?
“Clam” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an edible shellfish with two hinged shells, found buried in sand or mud.
