clamshell
noun
clam·shell
ˈklam-ˌshel 
1
: the shell of a clam
2
a
: a bucket or grapple (as on a dredge) having two hinged jaws
b
: an excavating machine having a clamshell
c
: either of a pair of doors (as in an airplane tail) that open out and away from each other
d
: a hinged container, case, or cover that opens like the shell of a clam
Examples of clamshell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Robot Stories Around Solar Panels (2025), one of his paintings in that show, features machine people harvesting pearls from giant clamshells and posing as Botticelli’s Birth of Venus.
—
Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 11 May 2026
Samsung’s clamshell has the edge here thanks to its support for cutting-edge cellular speeds.
—Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 6 May 2026
The to-go containers the diners complained about were a one-piece black clamshell container.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026
Back in the original clamshell packaging or container is fine.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clamshell
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Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 11 May 2026
Samsung’s clamshell has the edge here thanks to its support for cutting-edge cellular speeds.
—Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 6 May 2026
The to-go containers the diners complained about were a one-piece black clamshell container.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026
Back in the original clamshell packaging or container is fine.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clamshell
Cite this Entry
“Clamshell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clamshell. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clamshell
noun
clam·shell
ˈklam-ˌshel
: the shell of a clam
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