[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

rivet \riv"et\, v. t. imp.  p. p. riveted; p. pr.  vb. n.
   riveting.
   1. to fasten with a rivet, or with rivets; as, to rivet two
      pieces of iron.
      1913 webster

   2. to spread out the end or point of, as of a metallic pin,
      rod, or bolt, by beating or pressing, so as to form a sort
      of head.
      1913 webster

   3. hence, to fasten firmly; to make firm, strong, or
      immovable; as, to rivet friendship or affection.
      1913 webster

            rivet and nail me where i stand, ye powers
                                                  --congreve.
      1913 webster

            thus his confidence was riveted and confirmed. --sir
                                                  w. scott.
      1913 webster
see also:
riveted riveting 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

rivet \riv"et\, n. f., fr. river to rivet; perh. fr. icel. rifa
   to fasten together. cf. reef part of a sail.
   a metallic pin with a head, used for uniting two plates or
   pieces of material together, by passing it through them and
   then beating or pressing down the point so that it shall
   spread out and form a second head; a pin or bolt headed or
   clinched at both ends.
   1913 webster

         with busy hammers closing rivets up. --shak.
   1913 webster

   rivet joint, or riveted joint, a joint between two or
      more pieces secured by rivets.
      1913 webster
see also:
reef rivet joint riveted joint 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

rivet
     n 1: ornament consisting of a circular rounded protuberance as
          on a vault or shield or belt syn: stud
     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
     v 1: direct one's attention on something; "please focus on your
          studies and not on your hobbies" syn: concentrate, focus,
           center, centre, pore
     2: fasten with a rivet or rivets
     3: hold someone's attention; "the discovery of the skull
        riveted the paleontologists"
see also:
stud concentrate focus center centre pore 

[4] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

45 moby thesaurus words for "rivet":
   affix, articulate, attach, batten, batten down, bolt, buckle, butt,
   button, clasp, cleat, clip, concenter, concentrate, dovetail, fix,
   fixate, focus, hasp, hinge, hitch, hook, jam, joint, latch, lock,
   miter, mortise, nail, peg, pin, put, rabbet, scarf, screw, sew,
   skewer, snap, staple, stick, stitch, tack, toggle, wedge, zipper

Rivet >> R Words
Rivet, definition of term: Rivet
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