seam

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seam /s'iːm/ (seams)
1 [N-COUNT]
A seam is a line of stitches which joins two pieces of cloth together.
2 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
A seam of coal is a long, narrow layer of it underneath the ground.
The average UK coal seam is one metre thick.
3 [PHRASE] V inflects
If something is coming apart at the seams or is falling apart at the seams, it is no longer working properly and may soon stop working completely.
Britain's university system is in danger of falling apart at the seams.
4 [PHRASE] V inflects
If a place is very full, you can say that it is bursting at the seams.
The hotels of Warsaw, Prague and Budapest were bursting at the seams.

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