Clam Meaning
/klæm/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those that are edible; for example soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria), hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria), sea clams or hen clams (Spisula solidissima), and other species, possibly originally applied to clams of species Tridacna gigas, a huge East Indian bivalve.
nounA type of strong pincers or forceps.
Sentence Examples
I am as happy as a clam.
Tom is happy as a clam.
The largest kind of clam is the giant clam.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She found a fresh ____ buried in the wet sand near the tide.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We found a large ____ while we were walking along the beach today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English clam (“pincers, vice, clamp”), from Old English clam (“bond, fetter, grip, grasp”), from Proto-West Germanic *klammjan (“press, squeeze together”). The sense “dollar” may allude to wampum. The sense "Scientologist" alludes to the Scientologist belief that human thetans (souls) previously inhabited clams.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price."
— 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter III, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
"Long as I have my clams I don't give a damn about revolution / Long as I have my rice I don't have to think twice about a solution"
— 1970, “Cherrystones”, in Outlaw, performed by Eugene McDaniels:
"The network canceled—nonco-operation their legal shysters said. Suing me, for, for ten million clams, damages to sponsors, agencies."
— 1973, Lucas Webb, Stribling, page 188:
"So the clams have John Travolta, Tom Cruise, et al in their hot li'l ol'P-R hands […]"
— 1998 February 23, jesparolini, “CO$ Celebrities: USEFUL IDIOTS”, in alt.religion.scientology (Usenet):
"You had too many fucking days off, and you think this is a game? You think I'm the only one that's going to work up there while you motherfuckers sit out there and clam all over this fucking joint? What do you think this is anyhow? What kind of playing do you think this is? What kind of miscues do you call this?... You afraid you won't be heard? Everybody can hear your fucking clams out there. You don't need a mic for that. You taking up too much time blowing what? Shit! You stand out here all fucking night trying to blow your brains out. When it comes time to play, what do you play? Clams?! You got nowhere to fucking go the next day. I hear one fucking clam from anybody, you've had it! One clam and this whole fucking band is through tonight. Try me!"
— 1980s, Buddy Rich, bus recording of Buddy Rich by pianist Lee Musiker, YouTube:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She found a fresh ____ buried in the wet sand near the tide.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
We found a large ____ while we were walking along the beach today.