What does "rivet" mean?
A cylindrical mechanical fastener which is supplied with a factory head at one end and is used to attach multiple parts together by passing its bucktail through a hole and upsetting its end to form a field head.
Rivet
/ˈɹɪvət/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A cylindrical mechanical fastener which is supplied with a factory head at one end and is used to attach multiple parts together by passing its bucktail through a hole and upsetting its end to form a field head.
- Grammar: rivet is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: absorb, affix, anchor, articulate.
- Useful contrasts: bore, detach, distract.
- Usage evidence: A linear system would not be able to discover cracks forming around the rivet holes, because a hole would create one big echo.
How to use "rivet"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "rivet" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "rivet" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A cylindrical mechanical fastener which is supplied with a factory head at one end and is used to attach multiple parts together by passing its bucktail through a hole and upsetting its end to form a field head.
- 2 heavy pin having a head at one end and the other end being hammered flat after being passed through holes in the pieces that are fastened together wordnet
- 3 Any fixed point or certain basis. figuratively
- 4 ornament consisting of a circular rounded protuberance (as on a vault or shield or belt) wordnet
- 5 A light kind of footman's plate armour; an almain rivet. obsolete
"over his rivet he had a garment of white cloth of gold with a redde crosse"
Verb
- 1 To attach or fasten parts by using rivets. transitive
- 2 direct one's attention on something wordnet
- 3 To install rivets (see Usage notes). transitive
- 4 hold (someone's attention) wordnet
- 5 To command the attention of. figuratively, transitive
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 fasten with a rivet or rivets wordnet
- 7 To make firm or immovable. figuratively, transitive
"Terror riveted him to the spot."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from French.
Example
"A linear system would not be able to discover cracks forming around the rivet holes, because a hole would create one big echo."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "rivet"?
Common synonyms include: absorb, affix, anchor, articulate, attach, attach.
How do you use "rivet" in a sentence?
A linear system would not be able to discover cracks forming around the rivet holes, because a hole would create one big echo.
How do you pronounce "rivet"?
Pronounced /ˈɹɪvət/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Old French rivet (13th century), from the verb Old French river (“to fetter [a person]”) (12th century), from Old French rive (“rim, edge”) (ca. 1100), which is ultimately from Latin ripa (“riverbank”). Compare river, rival, riparian. The sense "kind of footman's armour" is apparently a back-formation from almain rivet, which is apparently derived from the English noun; see that entry for more.
Etymology 2
Borrowed from French Rivet.