noun
- 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.
verb (used with object)
- 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.
verb (used without object)
- to become cracked, fissured, or furrowed.
- Knitting. to make a line of stitches by purling.
noun
- a person or thing that seams
- another name for seam bowler
noun
- 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 grounda seam bowler
- bursting at the seams full to overflowing
- in a good seam Northern English dialect doing well, esp financially
verb
- (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
n.Old English seam “seam, suture, junction,” from Proto-Germanic *saumaz (cf. Old Frisian sam “hem, seam,” Old Norse saumr, Middle Dutch som, Dutch zoom, Old High German soum, German Saum “hem”), from PIE root *syu- “to sew, to bind” (cf. Old English siwian, Latin suere, Sanskrit syuman; see sew). Chidynge and reproche … vnsowen the semes of freendshipe in mannes herte. [Chaucer, “Parson’s Tale,” c.1386] Meaning “raised band of stitching on a ball” is recorded from 1888. Geological use is from 1590s. v.1580s, from seam (n.). Related: Seamed; seaming.
- A thin layer or stratum, as of coal or rock.
see burst at the seams; come apart at the seams.