- clammy
- [[t]klæ̱mi[/t]]
ADJ-GRADEDSomething that is clammy is unpleasantly damp or sticky.
Think of the clammy hands you get when you visit the dentist!...
My shirt was clammy with sweat.
English dictionary. 2008.
clammy
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Clammy — Clam my, a. [Compar. {Clammier}; superl. {Clammiest}.] [Cf. AS. cl[=a]m clay. See {Clam} to clog, and cf. {Clay}.] Having the quality of being viscous or adhesive; soft and sticky; glutinous; damp and adhesive, as if covered with a cold… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
clammy — (adj.) late 14c., probably from M.E. clam viscous, sticky, muddy (mid 14c.), from O.E. clæm mud, sticky clay, from P.Gmc. *klaimaz clay (Cf. Flem. klammig, Low. Ger. klamig sticky, damp, O.E. clæman to smear, plaster; Cf. CLAY (Cf. clay)) … Etymology dictionary
clammy — [adj] damp close, dank, drizzly, moist, mucid, mucous, muculent, pasty, slimy, soggy, sticky, sweating, sweaty, wet; concept 603 Ant. dry … New thesaurus
clammy — ► ADJECTIVE (clammier, clammiest) 1) unpleasantly damp and sticky. 2) (of air) cold and damp. DERIVATIVES clammily adverb clamminess noun. ORIGIN from dialect clam «to be sticky»; related to … English terms dictionary
clammy — [klam′ē] adj. clammier, clammiest [ME < clam, viscous, muddy, prob. < OE clam, mud, clay: for IE base see CLAY] unpleasantly moist, cold, and sticky clammily adv. clamminess n … English World dictionary
clammy — UK [ˈklæmɪ] / US adjective Word forms clammy : adjective clammy comparative clammier superlative clammiest cold and wet in an unpleasant way Her hands felt cold and clammy. Derived word: clamminess noun uncountable … English dictionary
clammy — adjective (clammier; est) Etymology: Middle English, probably from clammen to smear, stick, from Old English clǣman; akin to Old English clǣg clay Date: 14th century 1. being damp, soft, sticky, and usually cool < a clammy and inten … New Collegiate Dictionary
clammy — clammily, adv. clamminess, n. /klam ee/, adj. clammier, clammiest. 1. covered with a cold, sticky moisture; cold and damp: clammy hands. 2. sickly; morbid: She had a clammy feeling that something was wrong at home. [1350 1400; ME, equiv. to ME… … Universalium
clammy — clam·my klam ē adj, clam·mi·er; est being moist and sticky <a patient in shock may be cold and clammy (Emergency Medicine)> <clammy sweating> … Medical dictionary
clammy — adjective 1) his clammy hands Syn: moist, damp, sweaty, sticky; slimy, slippery Ant: dry 2) the clammy atmosphere Syn: damp, dank … Thesaurus of popular words
