Mactra \Mac"tra\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? kneading trough, fr. ? to knead.] (Zool.) Any marine bivalve shell of the genus {Mactra}, and allied genera. Many species are known. Some of them are used as food, as {Mactra stultorum}, of Europe. See {Surf clam}, under {Surf}. [1913 Webster]