n A
bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those that are edible; as, the long clam (
(taxlink|Mya arenaria|species)), the
quahog or round clam (
Venus mercenaria), the
sea clam or
hen clam (
(taxlink|Spisula solidissima|species)), and other species of the United States. The name is said to have been given originally to the
(taxlink|Tridacna gigas|species), a huge East Indian bivalve.