seam Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun joint consisting of a line formed by joining two pieces
  2. noun a slight depression in the smoothness of a surface
    crease; crinkle; line; wrinkle; furrow.
    • his face has many lines
    • ironing gets rid of most wrinkles
  3. noun a stratum of ore or coal thick enough to be mined with profit
    bed.
    • he worked in the coal beds
  4. verb put together with a seam
    • seam a dress

WordNet

Seam noun
Etymology
See Saim.
Definitions
  1. Grease; tallow; lard. Obs. or prov. Eng. Shak. Dryden.
Seam noun
Etymology
OE. seem, seam, AS. seám; akin to D. zoom, OHG. soum, G. saum, LG. soom, Icel. saumr, Sw. & Dan. söm, and E. sew. &root; 156. See Sew to fasten with thread.
Definitions
  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 transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Seamed ; present participle & verbal noun Seaming
Definitions
  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 intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To become ridgy; to crack open.
    Later their lips began to parch and seam. L. Wallace.
Seam noun
Etymology
AS. seám, LL. sauma, L. sagma a packsaddle, fr. Gr. . See Sumpter.
Definitions
  1. 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 1913