clam

/klæm/

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Word: Clam

Part of Speech: Noun and Verb

Basic Definition

1. Noun:

   • A clam is a type of shellfish that lives in the sea or in freshwater. Clams have two hard shells that cover their soft bodies. They can be found buried in sand or mud.
   • Clam can also refer to a piece of paper money that is worth one dollar. This meaning is more informal and not commonly used in everyday conversation.

2. Verb:

   • To "clam" means to gather clams by digging in the sand near the ocean or in shallow waters.

Usage Instructions

• When using "clam" as a noun, you can refer to the animal itself or the meat it provides in cooking. For example, you might say, "I love clam chowder!"
• As a verb, you can say, "We went to the beach to clam for dinner."

Example Sentences

• Noun: "We found several clams while walking on the beach."
• Noun (money): "He handed me a clam to pay for the soda."
• Verb: "They decided to clam at the ocean this weekend."

Advanced Usage

• In some regions, clamming (the activity of gathering clams) is a popular recreational activity.
• The phrase "clam up" means to stop talking or to become silent, often when someone is asked a difficult question.

Word Variants

• Clammy (adjective): This describes something that feels damp and cool, often related to sweat or humidity. For example, "The weather was clammy after the rain."
• Clam digger (noun): A person who digs for clams, either for food or as a job.

Different Meanings

• The primary meaning is the seafood, but it can also refer to money in a casual context.
• The verb form emphasizes the action of gathering clams.

Synonyms

• For the seafood: shellfish, bivalve (a scientific term).
• For the informal money term: buck (slang for one dollar).

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• "Clam up": To become quiet or stop talking, especially when prompted to speak.
• "Happy as a clam": This idiom means to be very happy or content. For example, "She was happy as a clam at the beach."

Summary

"Clam" is a versatile word in English that can refer to a type of shellfish or even money informally. It can also be used as a verb to describe the action of gathering these shellfish.

Academic

Noun

1. flesh of either hard-shell or soft-shell clams
2. a piece of paper money worth one dollar
3. burrowing marine mollusk living on sand or mud; the shell closes with viselike firmness

Verb

1. gather clams, by digging in the sand by the ocean

Synonyms

• dollar
• dollar bill
• one dollar bill
• buck