rivet C2+ Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction 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. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · a metal pin fastened by... fastenerpinbolt 2 verb · to fasten with rivets fastensecurejoin 3 verb · to hold someone's attention... gripfascinatecaptivate ↔ Opposites loosendetach Word family Derived forms rivetedrivetingrivetsriveterunrivet Related forms fasten Etymology AI details 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 Tools, Machines & Construction External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # 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 - Tools, Machines & Construction markdown