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
Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The tiny shrimp-like crustaceans quickly returned to the clam, suggesting a strong relationship with the host species.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
Soup Costco food courts in Taiwan offer members clam chowder.
—Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clam
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Noun
The restaurant is known for its fresh seafood, from lobster rolls and clam chowder to more inventive menu items like lobster tacos.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The tiny shrimp-like crustaceans quickly returned to the clam, suggesting a strong relationship with the host species.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
Located about 25 miles south of Fort Myers, this family-friendly, 33-square-mile barrier island is famous for its collection of shells—especially scallop, clam, and tulip varieties—and sand dollars, forming a veritable treasure trove for collectors.
—Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025
Soup Costco food courts in Taiwan offer members clam chowder.
—Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Sep. 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 4 Nov. 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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