What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Seam vs Hem - What's the difference?

seam | hem |

In sewing terms the difference between hem and seam

is that hem is the border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together to finish the edge and prevent it from fraying while seam is a folded back and stitched piece of fabric; especially, the stitching that joins two or more pieces of fabric.Wp

As nouns the difference between hem and seam

is that hem is an utterance or sound of the voice like "hem", often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention while seam is a folded back and stitched piece of fabric; especially, the stitching that joins two or more pieces of fabric.Wp

As verbs the difference between hem and seam

is that hem is to make the sound expressed by the word hem; to hesitate in speaking while seam is to put together with a seam.

As an interjection hem

is used to fill in the gap of a pause with a vocalized sound.

As a pronoun hem

is obsolete form of 'em|lang=en.

seam

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • (sewing) A folded back and stitched piece of fabric; especially, the stitching that joins two or more pieces of fabric.
  • *
    • Mind you, clothes were clothes in those days. […]  Frills, ruffles, flounces, lace, complicated seams and gores: not only did they sweep the ground and have to be held up in one hand elegantly as you walked along, but they had little capes or coats or feather boas.
  • A suture.
  • A thin stratum, especially of coal or mineral.
  • (cricket) The stitched equatorial seam of a cricket ball; the sideways movement of a ball when it bounces on the seam.
  • An old English measure of grain, containing eight bushels.
  • An old English measure of glass, containing twenty-four weys of five pounds, or 120 pounds.
  • * 1952 , , Building in England , p. 175.
    • As white glass was 6s. the 'seam', containing 24 'weys' (pise, or pondera) of 5 lb., and 2½ lb. was reckoned sufficient to make one foot of glazing, the cost of glass would be 1½d. leaving 2½d. for labour.
  • (construction) A joint formed by mating two separate sections of materials.
    • Seams can be made or sealed in a variety of ways, including adhesive bonding, hot-air welding, solvent welding, using adhesive tapes, sealant, etc.
  • A line or depression left by a cut or wound; a scar; a cicatrix.
  • (figurative) A line of junction; a joint.
  • * (Joseph Addison) (1672-1719)
    • Precepts should be so finely wrought togetherthat no coarse seam may discover where they join.
    Derived terms
    * seamster * seamstress

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To put together with a seam.
  • 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.
  • To mark with a seam or line; to scar.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • Seamed o'er with wounds which his own sabre gave.
  • To crack open along a seam.
  • * L. Wallace
    • Later their lips began to parch and seam .
  • (cricket) Of the ball, to move sideways after bouncing on the seam.
  • (cricket) Of a bowler, to make the ball move thus.
    • Quotations
    * Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Skeleton in Armor : *: Thus, seamed with many scars, / Bursting these prison bars, / Up to its native stars / My soul ascended!

    Etymology 2

    See saim.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (UK, dialect, obsolete) grease; tallow; lard
    • (Shakespeare)
    (Dryden)

    Anagrams

    * * * *

    hem

    English

    Etymology 1

    A sound uttered in imitation of clearing the throat (onomatopoeia)

    Interjection

    (en-interj)!
  • Used to fill in the gap of a pause with a vocalized sound.

    • See also

    * ahem * haw

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An utterance or sound of the voice like "hem", often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention.
  • * Spectator
    • his morning hems

    Verb

    (hemm)
  • To make the sound expressed by the word hem ; to hesitate in speaking.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Hem , and stroke thy beard.
    Derived terms
    * hem and haw

    Etymology 2

    From Middle English hem, hemm, in turn from Old English hemm and related to Middle High German .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (sewing) The border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together to finish the edge and prevent it from fraying.
  • A rim or margin of something.
  • * Shakespeare
    • hem of the sea
  • In sheet metal design, a rim or edge folded back on itself to create a smooth edge and to increase strength or rigidity.
    • Derived terms
    * touch the hem of someone's garment

    Verb

    (hemm)
  • (in sewing) To make a hem.
  • (transitive): To put hem on an article of clothing, to edge or put a border on something.
  • (transitive): To surround something or someone in a confining way.

    • Related terms

    * hemmed * hemming * hemmer

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) hem, from (etyl) .

    Pronoun

    (English Pronouns)

    • Anagrams

    * ----