Illustration of clam
- a incurrent orifice
- b siphon
- c excurrent orifice
- d mantle
- e shell
- f foot
often attributive
1
a
: any of numerous edible marine bivalve mollusks living in sand or mud
b
: a freshwater mussel
2
: a stolid or closemouthed person
3
4
informal
: dollar sense 1
Examples of clam in a Sentence
Noun (2)
it must take a whole lot of clams to buy a car like that
Recent Examples on the Web
Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 28 May 2026
On the plus side, two of the ship’s three restaurants are now open, and the food is good, especially the clam chowder.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Daisy MacLellan, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2026
Swim in your pool and go clamming.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clam
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Noun
The Downes also make chicken fingers, sandwiches, fish and chips and clam strips.
—Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 28 May 2026
On the plus side, two of the ship’s three restaurants are now open, and the food is good, especially the clam chowder.
—Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Verb
The town boasts a fascinating history of shipbuilders, sea captains, clamming, and foreign trade.
—Daisy MacLellan, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2026
Swim in your pool and go clamming.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clam
Cite this Entry
“Clam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clam. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clam
1 of 2 noun1
: any of numerous edible marine mollusks that have two hinged shells and live in sand or mud
2
: a freshwater mussel
clam
2 of 2 verb
clammed; clamming
: to dig or gather clams
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