clam

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈklam 

: clamp, clasp

clam

2 of 3

noun (2)

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

: clamshell

4

informal : dollar sense 3

Illustration of clam

• a incurrent orifice
• b siphon
• c excurrent orifice
• d mantle
• e shell
• f foot

clam

3 of 3

verb

clammed; clamming

intransitive verb

: to gather clams especially by digging

clammer

ˈkla-mər 

noun

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• dollar
• buck

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

Noun

The menu has something for everyone—chicken wings, Hatteras-style clam chowder, jumbo shrimp, and quarter-pound hot dogs. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 16 June 2025

Catch a sunset over Chincoteague Bay, enjoy a nearby beach, or dig your own clams and inspect your own oysters on an interactive shellfish tour. —Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 June 2025

Verb

Known for its abundance of agates found along the Pacific Ocean beach between Newport and Yaquina Head, Agate Beach is a popular spot for agate hunting, as well as other activities like clamming, surfing and wildlife viewing. —Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

Spend a day out on the water with a boat and gear rentals for crabbing or clamming. —Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English clamm bond, fetter; akin to Old High German klamma constriction and perhaps to Latin glomus ball

Noun (2)

clam entry 1; from the clamping action of the shells

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1636, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing clam

• (as) happy as a clam
• butter clam
• clam up
• clam worm
• giant clam
• hard clam
• hard-shell clam
• Manhattan clam chowder
• pismo clam
• razor clam
• round clam
• soft-shell clam
• surf clam

Rhymes for clam

• am
• bam
• cham
• damme
• damn
• dram
• flam
• fram
• gram
• ham
• jam
• jamb

Kids Definition

clam

1 of 2 noun

ˈklam 

1

: 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