seam
the line formed by sewing together pieces of cloth, leather, or the like.
the stitches used to make such a line.
any line formed by abutting edges.
any linear indentation or mark, as a wrinkle or scar.
Knitting. a line of stitches formed by purling.
Geology. a comparatively thin stratum; a bed, as of coal.
to join with or as if with stitches; make the seam or seams of.
to furrow; mark with wrinkles, scars, etc.
Knitting. to knit with or in a seam.
to become cracked, fissured, or furrowed.
Knitting. to make a line of stitches by purling.
Origin of seam
1Other words from seam
- seamer, noun
- un·der·seam, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use seam in a sentence
Under the table, I could see that his combat boots were actually black sneakers, frayed at the seams.
Local Truces Are Syria’s Sad Little Pieces of Peace | Joshua Hersh | November 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis past weekend saw two would-be blockbusters bursting at the seams with stars crash and burn at the box office.
Why ‘Boarding’ Is Ruining Movies: Padding Blockbusters With A-List Cameos | Marlow Stern | August 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI binged on America, I stuffed myself so full of America I was bursting at the seams with America.
Men Without a Country: Mike Brown, Trayvon Martin, My Father and Me | Arthur Chu | August 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut that theme of peace fell apart at the seams as night fell.
'What You Gonna Do, Kill Us All?' Protesters Ask Ferguson Police | Justin Glawe | August 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe designs were meant to be “stark” and “austere,” the designers said, and there were no straight seams in the creations.
Viktor & Rolf’s Return to Couture for Fall 2013: Going Zen | Liza Foreman | July 3, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Before that time we always put rope-yarn between the lap of the boiler-plates to make the seams tight.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickThe lead was very thick, and the seams were folded over and welded, no solder being used.
Bell's Cathedrals: A Short Account of Romsey Abbey | Thomas PerkinsIn New Brunswick the Carboniferous rocks occupy a large area, but the coal seams so far developed are thin and unimportant.
I sewed the short seams at the sides, and split the pegs from a section of seasoned maple.
There were seams in the masonry, and great gashes where the solid bolts crumbled the bricks to dust.
The Boys of '61 | Charles Carleton Coffin.
British Dictionary definitions for seam
/ (siːm) /
the line along which pieces of fabric are joined, esp by stitching
a ridge or line made by joining two edges
a stratum of coal, ore, etc
a linear indentation, such as a wrinkle or scar
surgery another name for suture (def. 1b)
(modifier) cricket of or relating to a style of bowling in which the bowler utilizes the stitched seam round the ball in order to make it swing in flight and after touching the ground: a seam bowler
bursting at the seams full to overflowing
in a good seam Northern English dialect doing well, esp financially
(tr) to join or sew together by or as if by a seam
US to make ridges in (knitting) using purl stitch
to mark or become marked with or as if with a seam or wrinkle
Origin of seam
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for seam
[ sēm ]
A thin layer or stratum, as of coal or rock.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with seam
see burst at the seams; come apart at the seams.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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