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seam - 10 dictionary results
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seam

  [seem]
Use seam in a Sentence
–noun
1. the line formed by sewing together pieces of cloth, leather, or the like.
2. the stitches used to make such a line.
3. any line formed by abutting edges.
4. any linear indentation or mark, as a wrinkle or scar.
5. Knitting. a line of stitches formed by purling.
6. Geology. a comparatively thin stratum; a bed, as of coal.
–verb (used with object)
7. to join with or as if with stitches; make the seam or seams of.
8. to furrow; mark with wrinkles, scars, etc.
9. Knitting. to knit with or in a seam.
–verb (used without object)
10. to become cracked, fissured, or furrowed.
11. Knitting. to make a line of stitches by purling.
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME seme (n.), OE sēam; c. G Saum hem; akin to sew 1 , Gk hymn membrane (see hymen )

Related forms:
seamer, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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seam   (sēm)   
n.  
    1. A line of junction formed by sewing together two pieces of material along their margins.
    2. A similar line, ridge, or groove made by fitting, joining, or lapping together two sections along their edges.
    3. A suture.
    4. A scar.
  2. A line across a surface, as a crack, fissure, or wrinkle.
  3. A thin layer or stratum, as of coal or rock.
v.   seamed, seam·ing, seams

v.   tr.
  1. To put together with or as if with a seam.
  2. To mark with a groove, wrinkle, scar, or other seamlike line.
  3. To form ridges in by purling.
v.   intr.
  1. To become fissured or furrowed; crack open.
  2. To purl.

[Middle English seme, from Old English sēam; see syū- in Indo-European roots.]
seam'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Seam

Seam\ (s[=e]m), n. [See Saim.] Grease; tallow; lard. [Obs. or prov. Eng.] --Shak. Dryden.

Seam

Seam\, n. [OE. seem, seam, AS. se['a]m; akin to D. zoom, OHG. soum, G. saum, LG. soom, Icel. saumr, Sw. & Dan. s["o]m, and E. sew. [root] 156. See Sew to fasten with thread.]

1. The fold or line formed by sewing together two pieces of cloth or leather.

2. Hence, a line of junction; a joint; a suture, as on a ship, a floor, or other structure; the line of union, or joint, of two boards, planks, metal plates, etc.

Precepts should be so finely wrought together . . . that no coarse seam may discover where they join. --Addison.

3. (Geol. & Mining) A thin layer or stratum; a narrow vein between two thicker strata; as, a seam of coal.

4. A line or depression left by a cut or wound; a scar; a cicatrix.

Seam blast, a blast by putting the powder into seams or cracks of rocks.

Seam lace, a lace used by carriage makers to cover seams and edges; -- called also seaming lace.

Seam presser. (Agric.) (a) A heavy roller to press down newly plowed furrows. (b) A tailor's sadiron for pressing seams. --Knight.

Seam set, a set for flattering the seams of metal sheets, leather work, etc.

Seam

Seam\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Seamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Seaming.]

1. To form a seam upon or of; to join by sewing together; to unite.

2. To mark with something resembling a seam; to line; to scar.

Seamed o'?r with wounds which his own saber gave. --Pope.

3. To make the appearance of a seam in, as in knitting a stocking; hence, to knit with a certain stitch, like that in such knitting.

Seam

Seam\, v. i. To become ridgy; to crack open.

Later their lips began to parch and seam. --L. Wallace.

Seam

Seam\, n. [AS. se['a]m, LL. sauma, L. sagma a packsaddle, fr. Gr. ?. See Sumpter.] A denomination of weight or measure. Specifically: (a) The quantity of eight bushels of grain. "A seam of oats." --P. Plowman. (b) The quantity of 120 pounds of glass. [Eng.]
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : seam
Spanish: costura,
German: der Saum,
Japanese: 縫い目
More Translations »

seam 
O.E. seam, from P.Gmc. *saumaz (cf. O.N. saumr, O.H.G. soum, Ger. Saum), from PIE base *siw-/*sju- "to sew" (cf. O.E. siwian, L. suere, Skt. 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 1592. Seamless in fig. sense of "whole, integrated" is attested from 1862.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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seam   (sēm)  Pronunciation Key 
A thin layer or stratum, as of coal or rock.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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seam

see burst at the seams; come apart at the seams.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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