soft-shell clam

soft-shell clam

n. An edible clam (Mya arenaria) having a thin fragile shell and a long siphon, found especially along the Atlantic coast of North America. Also called soft clam, steamer.

soft-shell clam

n (Animals) any of several marine clams of the genus Mya, esp M. arenaria, an edible species of coastal regions of the US and Europe, having a thin brittle shell. Sometimes shortened to: soft-shell Compare quahog

soft′-shell` clam′

n. any usu. oval edible clam of the genus Mya, esp. M. arenaria, inhabiting waters along both coasts of North America. Also called steamer. [1790–1800, Amer.]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	soft-shell clam - a clam that is usually steamed in the shelllong-neck clam, steamer, steamer clamMya arenaria, soft-shell clam, long-neck clam, steamer clam, steamer - an edible clam with thin oval-shaped shell found in coastal regions of the United States and Europeclam - flesh of either hard-shell or soft-shell clams
	2.	soft-shell clam - an edible clam with thin oval-shaped shell found in coastal regions of the United States and EuropeMya arenaria, long-neck clam, steamer clam, steamerclam - burrowing marine mollusk living on sand or mud; the shell closes with viselike firmnessgenus Mya, Mya - type genus of the family Myacidaelong-neck clam, soft-shell clam, steamer, steamer clam - a clam that is usually steamed in the shell