# clam

/ˈkɫæm/ (US) · /klˈæm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/clam
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. shellfish

noun · CEFR B1

a small shellfish with a smooth shell that lives in sand or mud.

For teachers: any of various edible bivalve molluscs, especially those that burrow in sand or mud.

- We spent the afternoon digging for clams on the beach at low tide.
- The chef prepared a traditional linguine with fresh clams, garlic, and a splash of white wine to highlight the seafood's natural saltiness.

### 2. money

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · American English

a slang word for a dollar.

For teachers: a slang term for a dollar, typically used in the plural to refer to a sum of money.

- That new video game cost me sixty clams.
- He complained that the repair job was going to cost him a few hundred clams more than he had originally budgeted.

### 3. musical mistake

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

a wrong or bad-sounding note played by a musician.

For teachers: a wrong or misplaced note, especially in a live performance or recording session.

- The trumpet player hit a loud clam during the final solo.
- Despite the overall brilliance of the symphony, the lead violinist dropped a noticeable clam in the third movement that cringed the conductor.

### 4. quiet person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

someone who is very quiet or refuses to talk.

For teachers: a person who is exceptionally taciturn or who refuses to divulge information.

- I tried to ask him about the secret, but he was a total clam.
- Interrogating the suspect proved difficult as he remained a complete clam throughout the entire four-hour session.

### 5. to gather shellfish

verb · CEFR B2

to look for and dig up clams from the sand.

For teachers: to hunt or dig for clams, typically as a commercial or recreational activity.

- The locals often go clamming along the coast during the summer months.
- They spent their childhood clamming in the tidal flats, selling their daily catch to the local seafood markets for pocket money.

### 6. vulva

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

a slang and sometimes rude word for a woman's genitals.

For teachers: a vulgar slang term for the vulva or vagina.

- The comedian used a crude joke involving a clam that offended some of the audience.
- The script was edited to remove several instances of vulgar slang, including references to 'clams', to ensure a lower age rating.

## Examples

- We spent the afternoon digging for a fresh clam on the beach.
- The chef prepared a traditional linguine with a fresh clam sauce and white wine.
- While some species of clam can live for over a century, most are harvested for food within their first few years of growth.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.