seam

noun

\ ˈsēm

Definition of seam

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

3a : 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

at the seams

: entirely, completely falling apart at the seams

seam

verb

seamed; seaming; seams

Definition of seam (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : 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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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

Before Friday, Pineda was averaging 92.1 mph on his four-seam fastball. — Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, "Twins break through late against Tigers," 7 June 2019 Santana worked the count full before Guduan piped a four-seam fastball. — Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle, "Astros suffer embarrassing blowout loss to Mariners," 6 June 2019 Happ has toggled between his tailing four-seam fastball and his sinking two-seamer, while mixing in a slider and changeup. — James Wagner, New York Times, "Yankees’ J.A. Happ Wrestles With Being a Fly-Ball Pitcher in a Home-Run Era," 5 June 2019 Knife Method Firmly grip the handle of a large knife (like a chef’s knife) and position the corner of the blade (the widest part closest to the handle) perpendicular to the can at the seam. — Country Living Staff, Country Living, "How to Open a Can Without a Can Opener," 21 May 2019 Dissly runs a corner route, covered by strong safety Jeff Heath, which helps open up a hole down the seam for Brown on the right side. — Bob Condotta, The Seattle Times, "Seahawks Play of the Week: Illustrating Russell Wilson’s mastery on the opening score vs. Cowboys," 25 Sep. 2018 On the game’s opening possession, Robison hit former Dwyer standout Dante Cousart, a walk-on receiver, down the seam for a 26-yard completion. — Wells Dusenbury, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Robison, Johnson go head-to-head in QB battle; locals shine in FAU spring game," 22 Apr. 2018 The 32-bit addressing scheme is one of the most tangible examples of how the internet is bursting at the seams. — Popular Mechanics, "The Death of the Internet," 7 Feb. 2019 With the crevice tool, go along the seams, around any buttons, and along the trim. — Carolyn Forte, Good Housekeeping, "How to Clean a Couch Like a Pro," 29 Mar. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Roll up the fillets and place them seam side down on a plate. — Gina Homolka And Heather K. Jones, Woman's Day, "Pesce Primavera," 19 Sep. 2018 Wore seamed stockings hooked to a suspender belt, tight pencil skirts and soft, brightly colored cashmere sweaters. — Shirley Manson, New York Times, "Shirley Manson: The First Time I Cut Myself," 3 July 2018 Roll dough into a ball and place seam side down on a lightly ﬂoured work surface. — Bon Appetit, "Ramadan Date Cookies," 21 May 2018 My goal was to achieve this within one year...seamed reasonable to me! — Leada Gore, AL.com, "How to get free McDonald's fries today," 20 Apr. 2018 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

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.