Definition

1. Noun:

   • A line where two pieces of fabric are sewn together: A seam is the line of stitching that joins two pieces of material, especially cloth or leather.
   • A thin layer or stratum of a mineral: In geology and mining, a seam is a narrow, distinct layer of a mineral, such as coal or ore, within rock.
   • A line, ridge, or groove formed by the fitting together of parts: A seam can be any visible line where edges meet, such as in wood, metal, or skin.
   • A mark or line like a seam, such as a wrinkle or scar: It can refer to a linear indentation or mark on a surface.

2. Verb:

   • To join with or as if with a seam: To sew pieces together along a line.
   • To mark with lines, grooves, or wrinkles: To cover something with lines that resemble seams.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • She carefully stitched the seam of the dress. (The line of sewing joining the fabric.)
  • The miners excavated a rich seam of coal. (A layer of coal within the earth.)
  • The carpenter sanded the wooden seam until it was smooth. (The line where two pieces of wood meet.)
  • The old sailor's face was a network of seams from years in the sun. (Deep wrinkles.)

• Verb:

  • The tailor will seam the two panels to create the jacket's back. (To sew together.)
  • Worry had seamed his forehead with deep lines. (To mark with lines or wrinkles.)

Advanced Usage

• "To be bursting at the seams": To be extremely full or crowded.
  • The concert hall was bursting at the seams with excited fans.
• "To come/fall apart at the seams": To be in a state of collapse or failure; to lose control or coherence.
  • After the scandal, the company's reputation began to fall apart at the seams.

Variants and Related Words

• Seamless (adjective): Smooth and continuous, without visible seams or obvious joins.
  • The software update provided a seamless user experience.
• Seamer (noun): A person or machine that sews seams.
• Seaming (noun/gerund): The action or process of making a seam.

Synonyms

• Noun: Joint, junction, suture, line, layer, stratum, vein, wrinkle, crease, furrow.
• Verb: Sew, stitch, join, unite, furrow, wrinkle.

Related Phrases

• A seam of truth/irony/etc.: A thin but significant vein or layer of a particular quality within something else.
  • His humorous speech contained a deep seam of sadness.

Idioms

• To have a good seam: (In sewing/craftsmanship) To have skill in making neat, strong seams.
• To let out/take in a seam: To adjust the size of a garment by undoing and re-sewing the seam.

Noun

1. a stratum of ore or coal thick enough to be mined with profit
   • he worked in the coal beds
2. a slight depression in the smoothness of a surface
   • his face has many lines
   • ironing gets rid of most wrinkles
3. joint consisting of a line formed by joining two pieces

Verb

1. put together with a seam
   • seam a dress