/ siːm; NAmE / noun
1.
a line along which two edges of cloth, etc. are joined or sewn together :
a shoulder seam
2.
a thin layer of coal or other material, between layers of rock under the ground :
They struck a rich seam of iron ore.
( figurative )
The book is a rich seam of information.
3.
a line where two edges meet, for example the edges of wooden boards
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IDIOMS
- be bursting / bulging at the seams
- be falling / coming apart at the seams
—more at fray verb
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English sēam , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zoom and German Saum .