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Definition of "rivet" [riv•et]

  • A metal bolt or pin having a head on one end, inserted through aligned holes in the pieces to be joined and then hammered on the plain end so as to form a second head. (noun)
  • To fasten or secure with or as if with a rivet. (verb-transitive)
  • To hammer the headless end of so as to form a head and fasten something. (verb-transitive)
  • To fasten or secure firmly; fix. (verb-transitive)
  • To engross or hold (the attention, for example). (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "rivet" in a sentence
  • "The lower right quadrant, if it has anything in it, will be a “C”, to indicate that the butt side of the rivet is to be countersunk, (such as a double flush plug) for the NACA method (82 degrees, rather than the 100 degrees for under a manufactered head)."
  • "Bike chain rivet setter, removable 5m allen wrench, screwdriver for slotted and Phillips head screws"
  • "Naturally, he climbs to the rooftop, where he finds that his "rivet" is merely a dropped lunch box."