English
clam
see also: CLAM
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /klæm/
  • (ae-tensing) IPA: [kleəm]
Noun

clam (plural clams)

  1. A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those that are edible; for example the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria), the hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria), the sea clam or hen clam (Spisula solidissima), and other species. The name is said to have been given originally to the Tridacna gigas, a huge East Indian bivalve.
  2. Strong pincers or forceps.
  3. A kind of vise, usually of wood.
  4. (US, slang) A dollar (usually used in the plural).
    Those sneakers cost me fifty clams!
  5. (slang, derogatory) A Scientologist.
  6. (slang, vulgar) A vagina.
  7. (informal) One who clams up; a taciturn person, one who refuses to speak.
Translations Verb

clam (clams, present participle clamming; past and past participle clammed)

  1. To dig for clams.
Translations
  • Portuguese: mariscar
Noun

clam (plural clams)

  1. A crash or clangor made by ringing all the bells of a chime at once.
Verb

clam (clams, present participle clamming; past and past participle clammed)

  1. To produce, in bellringing, a clam or clangor; to cause to clang.
Adjective

clam (comparative clammer, superlative clammest)

  1. (obsolete) clammy.
    • 1808, John Jamieson, [https://books.google.ru/books?id=JYpFAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA214&dq=Ice+is+said+to+be+clam,+when+beginning+to+melt+with+the+sun+or+otherwise,+and+not+easy+to+be+slid+upon.&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwimveL-hdbWAhWkIpoKHav3DOkQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Ice%20is%20said%20to%20be%20clam%2C%20when%20beginning%20to%20melt%20with%20the%20sun%20or%20otherwise%2C%20and%20not%20easy%20to%20be%20slid%20upon.&f=false An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language]:
      Ice is said to be clam, when beginning to melt with the sun or otherwise, and not easy to be slid upon.
Noun

clam

  1. clamminess; moisture
    • The clam of death.
Verb

clam (clams, present participle clamming; past and past participle clammed)

  1. To be moist or glutinous; to stick; to adhere.
  2. To clog, as with glutinous or viscous matter.
    • A swarm of wasps got into a honey pot, and there they cloyed and clammed themselves till there was no getting out again.
Noun

clam (plural clams)

  1. (rowing) Alternative form of CLAM#English|CLAM
CLAM
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /klæm/
  • (ae-tensing) IPA: [kleəm]
Noun

clam (plural clams)

  1. (rowing) Acronym of clip-on#Adjective|Clip-on load#English|Load Adjusting Mechanism A device that can be fit#Verb|fitted onto an oar#Noun|oar to adjust set#Noun|set.
    • 1995, Larry Gluckman, [https://web.archive.org/web/20180222154357/https://books.google.com/books?id=5UYEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP3&ots=R_gnd7G4Yh&dq=rowing%20clams&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=rowing%20clams&f=false Rowing News], The Independent Rowing News Inc., page 3:
      The CLAM can be 'clipped on' by the rower with little difficulty, so the load can be changed between alternating headwind–tailwind pieces.
    • 2014, Daniela Gomes da Costa, Yihuan Chang, eds., [https://web.archive.org/web/20180222154511/http://www.worldrowing.com/mm//Document/General/General/12/23/41/1313_LearnToRowWithShadows_English.pdf Learn to Row], Fédération internationale des sociétés d'aviron, page 28:
      Use a clam to make a quick or temporary change to the inboard/outboard...The clam sits against the outer face of the collar.


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