Clammed: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ฆช
clammed
[ klรฆmd ]
past tense
Clammed is the past tense of the verb 'clam,' which means to close or shut tightly, often referring to a shellfish or to be secretive. In a figurative sense, it can also refer to someone who refuses to speak or disclose information. The term is mostly used in informal contexts.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- He clammed up during the interview.
- The little boy clammed when asked about his whereabouts.
- After the argument, she clammed and wouldn't talk to anyone.
Translations
Translations of the word "clammed" in other languages:
๐ต๐น fechado
๐ฎ๐ณ เคฌเคเคฆ
๐ฉ๐ช geschlossen
๐ฎ๐ฉ tertutup
๐บ๐ฆ ะทะฐะบัะธัะธะน
๐ต๐ฑ zamkniฤty
๐ฏ๐ต ้ใใ
๐ซ๐ท fermรฉ
๐ช๐ธ cerrado
๐น๐ท kapalฤฑ
๐ฐ๐ท ๋ซํ
๐ธ๐ฆ ู ุบูู
๐จ๐ฟ uzavลenรฝ
๐ธ๐ฐ uzavretรฝ
๐จ๐ณ ๅ ณ้ญ
๐ธ๐ฎ zaprt
๐ฎ๐ธ lokuรฐ
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะถะฐะฑัา
๐ฌ๐ช แแแฎแฃแ แฃแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ baฤlฤฑ
๐ฒ๐ฝ cerrado
Etymology
The term 'clam' as a verb originated in the late 19th century, deriving from the noun 'clam,' which refers to the bivalve mollusk. It is believed that the metaphor of clamming up was inspired by the way clams are tightly shut, making it a fitting description for someone who is keeping quiet or hiding their thoughts. The informal usage of the term became more prevalent in the 20th century, especially in American English, where it has been used to describe not only the act of withholding information but also the physical behavior of being uncommunicative. The transformation from a literal action related to shellfish to a figurative use emphasizes the dynamic nature of language and how terms can evolve to capture human behaviors and emotions.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #38,630, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.
- ...
- 38627 enmeshment
- 38628 roomier
- 38629 springiness
- 38630 clammed
- 38631 adumbrate
- 38632 chivalrously
- 38633 paramecia
- ...