rivet

[ riv-it ]

See synonyms for rivet on Thesaurus.com

noun

a metal pin for passing through holes in two or more plates or pieces to hold them together, usually made with a head at one end, the other end being hammered into a head after insertion.

verb (used with object),riv·et·ed, riv·et·ing.

to fasten with a rivet or rivets.
to hammer or spread out the end of (a pin, bolt, etc.) in order to form a head and secure something; clinch.

to fasten or fix firmly.
to hold (the eye, attention, etc.) firmly.

Origin of rivet

First recorded in 1350–1400; (noun) Middle English revette, rivette, from Old French rivet, derivative of river “to attach”; (verb) Middle English revetten, derivative of the noun

Other words from rivet

riv·et·er, noun
riv·et·less, adjective
un·riv·et·ing, adjective

Words Nearby rivet

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use rivet in a sentence

He looked at the thin sheet of metal ringed by rivet holes and he knew instantly what it was his wife had chanced upon.
How Amelia's Plane Was Found | Michael Daly | October 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The U.S. European Command relies primarily upon the RC-135 rivet Joint to vacuum up electronic communications from Russia.
Kerry: U.S. Taped Moscow’s Calls to Its Ukraine Spies | Josh Rogin, Eli Lake | April 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“Nonsense,” muttered Hawberk, searching on the floor for a fallen rivet.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show | Robert W. Chambers | February 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Looked at in closeup, it reveals a row of popped rivets, with one rivet still partially stuck in place.
Picking Up Pieces From a Midair Explosion | Clive Irving | June 14, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
She came with an easy smile into the little group, and immediately her magnetic presence seemed to rivet all attention.
The Weight of the Crown | Fred M. White

With medium or moderately hard steel all rivet holes should be drilled, or punched ⅛ in.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 | Various
This process of forming the second head on the rivet is known as riveting, and may be done by hand-hammering or by a machine.
An Introduction to Machine Drawing and Design | David Allan Low
The conical head has a diameter twice and a height three quarters of the rivet diameter.
An Introduction to Machine Drawing and Design | David Allan Low
The greatest diameter of the pan head is about 1·6, and its height ·7 of the rivet diameter.
An Introduction to Machine Drawing and Design | David Allan Low

British Dictionary definitions for rivet

rivet

/ (ˈrɪvɪt) /

noun

a short metal pin for fastening two or more pieces together, having a head at one end, the other end being hammered flat after being passed through holes in the pieces

verb-ets, -eting or -eted (tr)

to join by riveting
to hammer in order to form into a head

(often passive) to cause to be fixed or held firmly, as in fascinated attention, horror, etc: to be riveted to the spot

Origin of rivet

C14: from Old French, from river to fasten, fix, of unknown origin

Derived forms of rivet

riveter, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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