noun / verb
clam
KLAM/klæm/
A shellfish enclosed by two tightly closing shell halves.
The clam's two shells open slightly at the hinge.
Etymology
The shellfish name apparently comes from a word for a grip or fetter, later meaning pincers or a clamp. If this connection is right, the original reference was to the shell.
In context
the Natural History Museum does have a giant clam shell and I asked if I could borrow it but they said we need a forklift truck to get over here because it's huge
More examples
- We went clamming at low tide.
- They steamed a pot of clams for dinner.
- He clams up when anyone asks about the missing money.
Forms
clam · clams · clammed · clamming