rivet

C2+ Topic:Materials & Substances

US /ˈɹɪvət/ See IPA manual

Freq #42930

Meanings

1

noun
a metal pin fastened by hammering one end flat

The bridge plates were held together with iron rivets.
2

verb
to fasten with rivets

Workers riveted the plates to the frame.
3

verb
to hold someone's attention completely

The witness's quiet answer riveted the courtroom.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a metal pin fastened by... fastener pin bolt

2 verb · to fasten with rivets fasten secure join

3 verb · to hold someone's attention... grip fascinate captivate

Opposites

loosen detach

Word family

Derived forms rivetedrivetingrivetsriveterunrivet

Related forms fasten

Etymology

From Old French rivet, from river ("to fetter, attach"), related to rive ("bank, edge"), ultimately from Latin ripa ("bank, shore").

rivet Old French river Old French rive Old French ripa Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Materials & Substances

External links

# rivet

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈɹɪvət/
**Frequency rank:** 42930

## Meanings
1. a metal pin fastened by hammering one end flat
2. to fasten with rivets
3. to hold someone's attention completely

## Examples
- The bridge plates were held together with iron rivets.
- Workers riveted the plates to the frame.
- The witness's quiet answer riveted the courtroom.

## Synonyms
- fastener
- pin
- bolt
- fasten
- secure
- captivate

## Antonyms
- loosen
- detach

## Derived Forms
- riveted
- riveting
- rivets
- riveter
- unrivet

## Related Forms
- fasten

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: rivet
- Root: river
- Root: rive
- Root: ripa

## Etymology
From Old French rivet, from river ("to fetter, attach"), related to rive ("bank, edge"), ultimately from Latin ripa ("bank, shore").

## AI Etymology
Rivet comes from Old French rivet and river, meaning to attach or fetter, with a deeper connection to forms meaning edge or bank. The concrete noun is a metal fastener hammered flat after being passed through material. The verb first means to fasten with such a pin, and then develops the figurative sense to hold attention firmly. That figurative use is transparent: something riveting fixes the mind in place much as a metal rivet fixes plates together.

## Topics
- Materials & Substances

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