# seam

/ˈsim/ (US) · /sˈiːm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/seam
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. clothing/fabric

noun · CEFR B2

the line where two pieces of cloth are sewn together.

For teachers: the line formed by the joining of two or more pieces of fabric, leather, or other material, typically by stitching.

- The seam on the shoulder of my jacket started to come apart.
- The tailor reinforced the inner seam of the trousers to prevent the fabric from fraying under constant tension.

### 2. geology

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a thin layer of a mineral, like coal, found between layers of rock.

For teachers: a distinct, relatively thin stratum of an economically useful mineral or rock, such as coal or ore.

- The miners discovered a rich seam of coal deep underground.
- Geological surveys indicated that the coal seam extended several miles eastward, though its thickness varied considerably across the basin.

### 3. cricket

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

the line of stitches around a cricket ball that affects how it bounces.

For teachers: the raised equatorial stitching on a cricket ball; also refers to the lateral movement of the ball upon pitching on this stitching.

- The bowler used the seam of the ball to make it change direction.
- The opening bowler exploited the humid conditions, landing the ball consistently on the seam to generate unpredictable lateral movement.

### 4. to join together

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to join two pieces of material together with a line of stitches.

For teachers: to join two pieces of material by creating a seam; often used in manufacturing or tailoring contexts.

- The machine can seam the edges of the fabric very quickly.
- The automated system is designed to seam heavy-duty canvas panels together with high precision for industrial use.

### 5. to mark or scar

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to mark a surface with a line or a scar.

For teachers: to mark a surface with a line, wrinkle, or scar; often used in a literary sense to describe a face.

- Years of hard work had seamed his face with deep lines.
- The rugged landscape was seamed with ancient dry riverbeds that glowed red in the setting sun.

## Examples

- The seam on my sleeve is starting to come apart.
- The tailor carefully pressed the seam to ensure the suit jacket looked sharp and professional.
- Geologists discovered a rich seam of anthracite coal running deep beneath the valley, promising decades of industrial activity for the local community.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.