seam

noun \ ˈsēm \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

Definition of seam

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

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seamlike

play \ˈsēm-ˌlīk\ adjective

— at the seams

: entirely, completely

falling apart at the seams

See seam defined for English-language learners

See seam defined for kids

Examples of seam in a Sentence

the seams of a dress
the seams of a boat
a rich seam of iron ore

Recent Examples of seam from the Web

After stretching each of the four corners, flip the dough over (seam side down, smooth side facing up) and gently shape the dough into a smooth ball.

— laura regensdorf, Vogue, "A Healthy Sourdough Focaccia Recipe for NYC’s Planned Parenthood Bake Sale," 8 Apr. 2018
Working in batches, brown the beef rolls on all sides, starting seam-side down.

— San Antonio Express-News, "Recipe: Tomato-braised Broccolini-stuffed Beef Rolls," 27 Mar. 2018
There were tiny bells sewn into the seam of his head scarf.

— sloane crosley, The Cut, "The Doctor Is a Woman," 26 Mar. 2018
Marwin Gonzalez turned upon Tillman's trailing two-seam fastball for his first home run of the season.

— chandler rome, Houston Chronicle, "Astros raise pennant, then roll past Orioles," 2 Apr. 2018
Even accounting for his plan to throw more two-seam fastballs after working on the pitch with Andrew Cashner this spring, Gausman only really got his fastball going in his third and fourth inning.

— jon meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Fastball fails Orioles' Kevin Gausman in his 2018 debut, a 7-0 loss to the Twins," 1 Apr. 2018
The radar girls swing up the lane, dressed and made up, Victory rolls and painted-on stocking seams, chattering and laughing.

— andrew liptak, The Verge, "Read an excerpt from Luna author Ian McDonald’s heartbreaking new time-travel romance," 31 Mar. 2018
When Tannehill’s knee couldn’t hold up in 2017 training camp, that led to the unraveling of this team’s seams.

— omar kelly, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Kelly: Dolphins need to avoid returning to a state of dysfunction | Commentary," 29 Mar. 2018
Conventional swing happens when the ball is new and is released from the bowler's hand with the seam at an angle to the initial line of flight.

— zahid mahmood, CNN, "Ball tampering: What is it and why is it such a big deal?," 28 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'seam.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of seam

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Handicraft Terms

biscuit, darn, tambour, wrought

seam

verb

Definition of seam

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

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seamer

noun

Examples of seam in a Sentence

in fencing circles it is a mark of honor to have one's face seamed with saber cuts

Recent Examples of seam from the Web

Wrap log around can, seam side down, gently pulling from center of log to stretch around.

— woman's day kitchen, Woman's Day, "King Cake," 12 Jan. 2018
Place rollups seam side down in an 8-by-8-inch glass baking dish.

— atlanta life, ajc, "7 Day Menu Planner," 3 Nov. 2017
Many of the newest iterations are seamed to accentuate the body, providing a womanly shapeliness in place of utilitarian boxiness.

— alev aktar, WSJ, "Is a $5,930 Puffer Coat Sexier Than a $200 One?," 28 Sep. 2017
The north Siberian peninsula, whose yellowish soil is seamed with gold and copper and a range of precious earths, was populated once by the Gulag of the Stalin years.

— WSJ, "Five Best: Catherine Merridale," 4 Aug. 2017
Over the course of the class, participants learn to cast on, the knit and purl stitches, how to bind off and seam up a cowl.

— Lake County News-Sun, "Calendar," 18 Sep. 2017
Thick-seamed coal on federal land in the Powder River Basin overlying Wyoming and Montana is relatively clean-burning and inexpensive to mine.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "Coal Makes a Comeback," 16 Aug. 2017
Over the course of the class, participants learn to cast on, the knit and purl stitches, how to bind off and seam up a cowl.

— Lake County News-Sun, "Calendar," 29 Aug. 2017
Yet all our legislators seam to be interested in is creating more and more loopholes for the criminal class to be walking the streets and living in our neighborhoods.

— scott kaufman, Orange County Register, "Letters: Build more jails," 16 May 2017

First Known Use of seam

1582

seam Synonyms

Synonyms

groove, score, scribe;

bevel, chamfer, flute;

SEAM Defined for English Language Learners

seam

noun

Definition of seam for English Language Learners

: a line where two pieces of cloth or other material are sewn together
: a line where two pieces of wood, metal, dough, etc., are joined together
: a layer of coal, rock, etc., that is between two other layers of rock underground