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 3
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
Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2025
While the clams likely reach restaurants by boat, getting to the 'fajã' on foot is a different story.
—Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2025
One of my goals for 2024 was to do more fishing, crabbing and clamming.
—Chloe Sorvino, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clam
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Noun
This algae, some of it toxic, in turn becomes a food source for shellfish species including mussels, clams, oysters and scallops.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2025
While the clams likely reach restaurants by boat, getting to the 'fajã' on foot is a different story.
—Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
Verb
Spend a day out on the water with a boat and gear rentals for crabbing or clamming.
—Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2025
One of my goals for 2024 was to do more fishing, crabbing and clamming.
—Chloe Sorvino, Forbes, 10 Jan. 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 19 May. 2025.
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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