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clam

Pronunciation: /klam/

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Definition of clam

noun

1a marine bivalve mollusc with shells of equal size.
- Subclass Heterodonta: several families and numerous species, including the edible North American hardshell clam (see quahog) and softshell clam. See also giant clam
informal any of a number of edible bivalve molluscs, e.g. a scallop.

2US informal a dollar.

verb (clams, clamming, clammed)

[no object]

1chiefly North American dig for or collect clams: (as noun clamming)November is one of the worst times for clamming

2 (clam up) informal abruptly stop talking: as soon as I ask if any of this can go on the record, he clams up

Origin:

early 16th century: apparently from earlier clam 'a clamp', from Old English clam, clamm 'a bond or bondage', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch klemme, German Klemme, also to clamp¹

clam in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of clam in the US English dictionary

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