clam
A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those that are edibleA 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.
» I'm as happy as a clam.
Ich bin überglücklich.
Meaning
11 sensesA 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.
Muschel, Venusmuschel, Klaffmuschel
моллю́скmolljúsk, двуство́рчатый моллю́скdvustvórčatyj molljúsk
молю́скmoljúsk, двостулковий молю́скdvostulkovyj moljúsk
(historical, in the plural)A type of strong pincers or forceps.
A kind of vise, usually of wood.
(US, in the plural, slang)A dollar.
Those sneakers cost me fifty clams!
a piece of paper money worth one dollar
(derogatory, slang)A Scientologist.
(slang, vulgar)A vagina or vulva.
(slang)A wrong or misplaced note.
(informal)One who clams up; a taciturn person, one who refuses to speak.
(US, dated, slang)Mouth (Now found mostly in the expression shut one's clam)
A crash or clangor made by ringing all the bells of a chime at once.
Clamminess; moisture
Examples
21 sentencesI'm as happy as a clam.
deIch bin überglücklich.
Are crabs and clams considered fish?
deGelten Krebse und Muscheln als Fische?
I am as happy as a clam.
ruЯ счастлив, как ребёнок.
deIch bin überglücklich.
Tom ate a bowl of clam chowder.
I've never eaten clams.
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Middle English clam (“pincers, vice, clamp”), from Old English clam (“bond, fetter, gFrom 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.
From Middle English clammen, clemen (“to smear, bedaub”), from Old English clǣman (“to smear, bedaub”). Cognate with German klamm (“clammy”). See also clammy (“damp, cold and sticky”) and clem (“to adhere, stick, plug (a hole)”).
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Forms
plural: clamsSynonyms
4 synonyms- a piece of paper money worth one dollar:dollardollar billone dollar billbuck