clam

¹

[ klam ]

noun

1. any of various bivalve mollusks, especially certain edible species. Compare quahog, soft-shell clam.
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, clam·ming.

1. to gather or dig clams.

verb phrase

1. Slang. 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 ( defs 1, 2, 3 ).
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. See clem
   a variant of clem

Other Words From

• clam·like adjective
• clam·mer 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

In addition to the idiom beginning with clam , also see happy as the day is long (as a clam) .

Example Sentences

Executives from Toshiba and Mitsubishi helped crowd the dining room, which claimed 18-foot ceilings, a robota grill and a glassed-in fish room, a cool pantry for the oysters, clams, live scallops and sea urchins that populated his menus.

From Washington Post

The bite-size morsel inside the shell is succulent and tender — no rubber-band chewiness like with a clam.

From Washington Post

In sandy tidewater areas, people wade along and feel clams on the bottom with their feet, then scoop them up and stow them in a mesh bag tied to their waist or suspended in a small floating tube.

From Popular-Science

Most coastal states list where clams and mussels can be safely harvested, and those areas are subject to change.

From Popular-Science

Akin to San Francisco’s signature cioppino, it’s an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to seafood, with squidi, shrimp, clams, mussels and fish all thrown together into one delicious dish.

From Ozy

You see this a lot when individuals who are accused of something decide to clam up, often under the advice of their attorney.

From The Daily Beast

Back in California, Zach finds that people from whom he might learn about the bombing either die, disappear, or clam up.

From The Daily Beast

All of which makes me wonder why Lindsey Graham and his cohort were so afraid the guy would clam up.

From The Daily Beast

Then I thought the non-celebrities would clam up because the cameras would make them nervous.

From The Daily Beast

“The Clam Castle was crowded with taxpayers,” Pete says in typical fashion.

From The Daily Beast

The recovery of the oyster, clam and other edible shell-fish is also a feature of the work which the Lake Company has in view.

From Project Gutenberg

Its shores were long stretches of mud-flats, corrugated everywhere with thousands of clam-holes.

From Project Gutenberg

Then I saw that the two halves of the clam-shell bucket were slightly open, just wide enough to let me squeeze in.

From Project Gutenberg

Down fell that pretty innocent, as falls a snow-white lamb; Her hair drooped round her pallid cheeks, like sea-weed on a clam.

From Project Gutenberg

"It's your kind of clam chowder, too," said Mrs. Hills, shaking her head.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• mollusk