clam Hear it!

clam definition

clam (klam)

noun pl. clams or clam

  1. any of various hard-shell, usually edible, bivalve mollusks, some of which live in the shallows of the sea, others in fresh water
  2. the soft, edible part of such a mollusk
  3. Informal a reticent or taciturn person
  4. ☆ clamshell (sense )
  5. ☆ Slang
    1. a dollar
    2. Jazz a misplayed note

Etymology: < obs. clam, clamp (< OE clamm, bond, fetter: for IE base see climb); with ref. to the action of the shells

intransitive verb clammed, clamming clam′·ming

to dig, or go digging, for clams

Related Forms:

clam Idioms

clam up

☆
Informal to keep silent or refuse to talk

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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