clam
gb/klˈæm/ us/klˈæm/
B1
English
kagyló, szótlan ember, kagylót szed, lóvé, dolcsi, pina
NOUN
B1
1
kagyló
A2
Usage pattern:
a clam; clams
We found a clam buried in the wet sand at low tide.
Apálykor találtunk egy kagylót a nedves homokba temetkezve.
Clams filter water as they feed.
A kagylók táplálkozás közben szűrik a vizet.
The diver photographed a giant clam on the reef.
Learner examples
A clam has two shells.
A kagylónak két héja van.
Clams live in the sand.
A kagylók a homokban élnek.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse clam (a type of shellfish) with clamp (a tool that holds things).
Meaning
a bivalve shellfish
Collocations
clam shell
|clam bed
|clam habitat
|freshwater clam
|giant clam
|burrowing clam
|clam population
|native clams
|clams in the sand
|clams in the mud
Synonyms
bivalve (A broader scientific category that includes clams, oysters, and mussels.)
|
shellfish (A broad food/sea-life term; not all shellfish are clams.)
Themes
nature
|animals
|food
Definition
a shellfish with two shells
A marine or freshwater mollusk with a soft body enclosed by two hinged shells, often living in sand or mud.
NOUN
B1
2
kagyló
A2
Usage pattern:
eat [clams]; a dish with clams
We ordered pasta with clams and garlic.
Fokhagymás kagylós tésztát rendeltünk.
These clams are best steamed with white wine.
Ezek a kagylók fehérborban párolva a legfinomabbak.
She doesn’t eat clams because of her shellfish allergy.
Learner examples
I ate clams for dinner.
Kagylót ettem vacsorára.
These clams are fresh.
Ezek a kagylók frissek.
Meaning
clam meat used as food
Collocations
steamed clams
|fried clams
|clam chowder
|clam sauce
|fresh clams
|canned clams
|clams on the half shell
|clams with pasta
|clam appetizer
|clam platter
Synonyms
shellfish (A general food category; clams are one kind of shellfish.)
Themes
food_and_drink
|cooking
Definition
clams cooked and eaten as food
The edible flesh of clams, or clams served as food.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
be a clam; act like a clam
Ask him about his plans and he turns into a clam.
Kérdezd meg a terveiről, és rögtön hallgatásba burkolózik.
She was a clam during the meeting and didn’t share any opinions.
Az értekezleten teljesen szótlan volt, és nem mondta el a véleményét.
Don’t be a clam—tell us what happened.
Learner examples
He is a clam in class.
Az órán mindig szótlan.
Don’t be a clam—talk to me.
Ne legyél már ilyen szótlan – beszélj velem!
Common mistake:
This meaning is informal and metaphorical; it does not mean the animal.
Meaning
a very quiet person
Collocations
be a clam
|remain a clam
|turn into a clam
|a real clam
|such a clam
|go all clam
|clam-like silence
Synonyms
silent type (Neutral-to-informal and less joking; suggests a generally quiet personality.)
|
mute (Stronger and less casual; can imply inability to speak, not just refusal.)
Antonyms
chatterbox (Someone who talks a lot.)
Themes
people
|communication
|emotions
Definition
a person who won’t talk
An informal term for a person who is very quiet or refuses to speak, especially when questioned.
VERB
B2
4
kagylót szed
B1
Usage pattern:
clam (for [something]) (at/on/in [place])
We went out early to clam on the tidal flats.
Korán kimentünk kagylót szedni az árapálysíkságra.
They clam for razor clams when the tide is very low.
Amikor apálykor nagyon visszahúzódik a víz, borotvakagylót szednek.
Locals still clam along this stretch of beach in summer.
Learner examples
We went clamming today.
Ma kagylót mentünk szedni.
Meaning
to dig or collect clams
Collocations
go clamming
|clam at low tide
|clam along the beach
|clam in the flats
|clam for dinner
|clam with a rake
Synonyms
dig (More general; can be used for many things besides clams.)
|
harvest (More formal; emphasizes collecting as a resource.)
Themes
outdoors
|food_and_drink
|work
Definition
to look for clams in the sand and take them
To dig for and collect clams from sand or mud, especially along the shore.
NOUN
C1
SLANG
5
Usage pattern:
[number] clams; a few clams
I only have a few clams left until payday.
Fizetésig már csak egy kis lóvém maradt.
That used bike cost me fifty clams.
Az a használt bringa ötven dolcsiba került.
He was trying to make some extra clams on the weekend.
Learner examples
I don’t have many clams.
Nincs sok lóvém.
Common mistake:
This is usually used in the plural (clams), not as a single clam.
Meaning
money, especially dollars (slang)
Collocations
a few clams
|ten clams
|spend clams
|make clams
|no clams
Synonyms
bucks (Very common slang for dollars.)
|
cash (Neutral; emphasizes physical money.)
Themes
money
|daily_life
Definition
money (slang)
Money, especially dollars, used as a slang term (usually plural).
NOUN
C1
VULGAR
6
pina
C2
Usage pattern:
a clam
The script includes vulgar slang terms like “clam.”
A forgatókönyvben olyan vulgáris szlengszavak szerepelnek, mint a „pina”.
He used an offensive word for female genitals, which upset people.
Egy sértő szót használt a női nemi szervekre, ami sokakat felháborított.
Common mistake:
Avoid this in polite conversation; it can sound offensive or disrespectful.
Meaning
vulva (vulgar slang)
Synonyms
pussy (Also vulgar; common but often offensive.)
Themes
body
|sex_and_relationships
Definition
a very rude word for female genitals
A vulgar slang term for a woman’s vulva.
Grammar
Dictionary form
clam
IPA
GB/klˈæm/
US/klˈæm/
Syllables & stress
clam (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (clam)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: clam
- Plural: clams
Verb
- Base: clam
- 3rd Person Singular: clams
- Present Participle: clamming
- Past: clammed
Word family
Forms
clams
noun
clamming
verb
clammed
verb
Related words
clammy
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
clamminess
noun
Expressions
clam bake
1/klˈæm bˈeɪk/
fixed phrase
outdoor meal with clams
an outdoor party where clams are cooked
Examples
- They hosted a clam bake on the beach.
- We went to a clam bake and ate seafood all afternoon.
- The campground organizes an annual clam bake.
Learner examples
- We went to a clam bake.
clam chowder
1/klˈæm t͡ʃˈaʊdɚ/
fixed phrase
soup made with clams
a soup with clams
Examples
- I had a bowl of clam chowder for lunch.
- This restaurant is famous for its clam chowder.
- She ordered clam chowder and a sandwich.
Learner examples
- I want clam chowder.
clam up
1/klˈæm ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
informal
become silent; refuse to speak
to stop talking suddenly
Examples
- He clammed up as soon as the police arrived.
- Whenever I ask about his job, he clams up.
- She clammed up about where she was going.
Learner examples
- He clammed up.
- She clams up when she is nervous.
happy as a clam
1/hˈæpi ˈæz ə klˈæm/
idiom
informal
very happy and content
very happy
Examples
- She’s happy as a clam in her new apartment.
- He was happy as a clam after passing the exam.
- The kids were happy as a clam playing in the water.
Learner examples
- I’m happy as a clam today.