a shellfish that can be eaten. It has a shell in two parts that can open and close. 蛤；蛤蜊；蚌 
clam chowder/soup 蛤蜊杂烩汤；蛤蜊汤 The moment I mentioned the children he closed up like a clam (= became silent and refused to discuss the topic). 我提到孩子的那一刻，他像蛤一样闭上了嘴（变得沉默了，拒绝讨论这个话题）。
Word Originearly 16th cent.: apparently from earlier clam ‘a clamp’, from Old English clam, clamm ‘a bond or bondage’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch klemme, German Klemme, also to clamp.
