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seam

Syllabification: (seam)
Pronunciation: /sēm/
Translate seam | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of seam

noun

  • 1a line along which two pieces of fabric are sewn together in a garment or other article.
  • a line where the edges of two pieces of wood, wallpaper, or another material touch each other.
  • a long thin indentation or scar:a sun-scorched face fissured with delicate seams
  • 2an underground layer, as of ore or coal.

verb

[with object]
  • 1join with a seam:it can be used for seaming garments
  • 2 (usually as adjective seamed) make a long narrow indentation in:men in middle age have seamed faces

Phrases

bursting (or bulging) at the seams

informal (of a place or building) full to overflowing.

come (or fall) apart at the seams

informal (of a person or system) be in a very poor condition and near to collapse:the attitude of the airport guard was symptomatic of a system falling apart at the seams

Derivatives

seamer

noun

Origin:

Old English sēam, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zoom and German Saum

seam in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of seam in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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