clamshell
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A dredging bucket with hinges like the shell of a clam.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
klamshelSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈklæmʃɛl
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A dredging bucket with hinges like the shell of a clam
often attributive
Any object with some other resemblance to either one or both halves of the shell of a clam.
Any object that, in (literal or figurative) resemblance to the shell of a clam, has a hinge on one edge and two surfaces that close together.
In food service, the closing box (usually styrofoam but sometimes cardboard) given to consumers with takeout food.
A hinged case for a video tape, cassette tape, or video game cartridge.
verb
To compress or flatten underwater debris so as to avoid blocking a channel.
To dig out by means of a clamshell (dredging bucket).
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A dredging bucket with hinges like the shell of a clam
Used this way, clamshell is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
Share your sentence
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Keep learning “clamshell” by choosing the kind of practice you need next.
- Practice sentence writingWrite sentences with vocabulary and get instant feedback.
- Practice in contextAnswer short vocabulary questions drawn from real situations.
- Review vocabularyTest your recall and strengthen words over time.
- Practice typingType vocabulary in short rounds that draw from words you've learned and saved.
Want to type words like this one without looking at the keyboard? Each typing round draws from words you've learned, saved or need to review. Follow the free Learn to Type lessons and type your own vocabulary with confidence.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.