seam

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: the joining of two pieces (as of cloth or leather) by sewing usually near the edge
b
: the stitching used in such a joining
2
: the space between adjacent planks or strakes of a ship
3
a
: a line, groove, or ridge formed by the abutment of edges
b
: a thin layer or stratum (as of rock) between distinctive layers
also : a bed of valuable mineral and especially coal irrespective of thickness
c
: a line left by a cut or wound
also : wrinkle
4
: a weak or vulnerable area or gap
found a seam in the zone defense
seamlike adjective

seam

2 of 2

verb

seamed; seaming; seams

transitive verb

1
a
: to join by sewing
b
: to join as if by sewing (as by welding, riveting, or heat-sealing)
2
: to mark with lines suggesting seams

intransitive verb

: to become fissured or ridgy
seamer noun
Phrases
at the seams
: entirely, completely
falling apart at the seams

Examples of seam in a Sentence

Noun the seams of a dress the seams of a boat a rich seam of iron ore Verb in fencing circles it is a mark of honor to have one's face seamed with saber cuts
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The high-voltage battery module may contain insufficient weld seams, which can result in the battery overheating, and increasing the risk of a fire, NHTSA said. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2024 Check the places where bugs hide during the day, including mattress tags and seams, and behind baseboards, headboards, electrical outlets and picture frames. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 Amazon is bursting at the seams with perfect picks that are just waiting to lift your spirits. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024 That question of the extent to which someone is prepared to put their life on the line, whether that’s personally, professionally, or in an absolute and literal sense, for the sake of standing up for their beliefs, has always provided a rich seam for artists to mine. Catherine Bray, Variety, 17 Feb. 2024 Conclusion: The Dolphins need either a dynamic third wide receiver or a tight end who can be a seam threat. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2024 Check the places where bed bugs hide during the day, including mattress tags and seams, and behind baseboards, headboards, electrical outlets and picture frames. The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 It's made of 168 pieces of stainless steel plates and has been welded in such a way that there are no visible seams. Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2024 Other residents have reported cracks in their walls, doorways that have split at the seams and sinkholes on their properties. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024
Verb
For tree trunk, seam 4 widths 3½ x 36 inches of light green burlap together, forming two strips 72 inches long. Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2023 The equally sheer skirt featured a little seaming detail and a short slit. Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 19 Dec. 2023 This historical and anthropological deep dive teaches us that migration has, of necessity, brought about a rupture with the past, yet the ancient Jewish ways have indelibly seamed through newer Indian ones to create a hybrid cuisine. Meher Mirza, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2023 All day every day at every hour men and women, children, wheeled into a world that is not the world but more so, to seam themselves to machines from which the healing bane drips. Christian Wiman, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023 There was no native population, and those who had successfully navigated the treacherous journey there found fjords teeming with baleen whales and mountains seamed with coal. Taymour Soomro Scott Conarroe, New York Times, 10 May 2023 Roll up and place, seam sidea down, in prepared pan. Charlyne Mattox, Country Living, 2 May 2023 Selectors, instead, stuck with aging David Warner, who has been in a form rut stretching several years and sports a mediocre record on the seaming wickets of the U.K, and Matthew Renshaw and Marcus Harris - batters with middling Test returns. Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2023 Pitching is a brotherhood; teammates and even opponents routinely compare grips and share tips on finger pressure, seam orientation and so on. Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'seam.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English seem, from Old English sēam; akin to Old English sīwian to sew — more at sew

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of seam was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near seam

Cite this Entry

“Seam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seam. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

seam

1 of 2 noun
1
: the fold, line, or groove made by sewing together or joining two edges or two pieces
the seams of a dress
the seams of a boat
2
a
: a raised or sunken line : groove, furrow, wrinkle
b
: a layer (as of rock) between clearly different layers
coal seams
seamless
-ləs
adjective

seam

2 of 2 verb
1
: to join with a seam
2
: to mark with a line, scar, or wrinkle
creeks seam the valley
a face seamed with age

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