rivet

noun

riv·et | \ ˈri-vət

Definition of rivet

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a headed pin or bolt of metal used for uniting two or more pieces by passing the shank through a hole in each piece and then beating or pressing down the plain end so as to make a second head

rivet

verb

riveted; riveting; rivets

Definition of rivet (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to fasten with or as if with rivets

2 : to upset the end or point of (something, such as a metallic pin, rod, or bolt) by beating or pressing so as to form a head

3 : to fasten or fix firmly stood riveted by fright

4 : to attract and hold (something, such as a person's attention) completely

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Examples of rivet in a Sentence

Verb

The iron plates are riveted rather than welded. everyone riveted their eyes on the trick that the magician was performing on stage

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

This Sandro Yza bag in black with gold rivet details is great and a perfect gift! — Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, "6 Impossibly Chic Fashion Moms Share Their Dream Mother’s Day Gifts," 9 May 2019 Their genius is being able to identify a ship’s weakest rivets before setting sail, and formulating a plan that protects them from unsustainable pressure. — Sam Walker, WSJ, "The Truth About Failing Spectacularly," 16 Feb. 2019 Additionally, each piece is inspected for rivets, which attach handles to the pan, and create additional crevices that require cleaning. — Betty Gold, Good Housekeeping, "5 Best Ceramic Cookware Sets to Buy in 2019, According to Kitchen Product Experts," 1 Mar. 2019 Bruce Watkins , left, and John Davisson, right, rivet side panels at the Airstream production facility. — John D. Stoll, WSJ, "Humans Are Winning the Battle With Robots," 1 Nov. 2018 The whole chassis, Pakbaz says, calls for 610 rivets, 730 washers, 644 nuts and 964 mechanical fasteners. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Painting a Mars Rover Is Even More Complicated Than You'd Think," 11 Oct. 2018 However, if food gets stuck around the rivets, some additional scrubbing could be necessary. — The Good Housekeeping Institute, Good Housekeeping, "Anolon Authority Nonstick," 30 June 2016 In 1873, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis created what would become the first pair of blue jeans, crafted from denim with metal rivets. — Cassie Shortsleeve, Popular Mechanics, "How 5 Everyday Products Have Changed Through the Ages," 10 Dec. 2018 Without room to move, zippers and rivets can snag and stitching can break. — Lauren Smith, Good Housekeeping, "How to Wash Jeans the Right Way — And Mistakes You Might Be Making," 30 Nov. 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Congressional testimony by Justice Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford riveted the nation, recalling the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill drama of 1991. — WSJ, "Immigration, Mueller Probe Boosted U.S. Tensions This Year," 18 Dec. 2018 The masked animal did so by scaling a St. Paul, Minn., skyscraper, a la Spider-Man, and in the process riveting — and terrifying — legions of humans who followed online. — Karin Brulliard, Washington Post, "A raccoon is scaling the side of a tall skyscraper, and it’s incredibly stressful," 12 June 2018 From wooden platforms 860 feet in the air, the crew was going to raise and rivet a steel needle weighing 54,000 pounds—the finishing touch of a tower called the Chrysler Building. — Jonathan Schifman, Popular Mechanics, "A Friendship Turned to Rivalry. A Feud That Changed the New York Skyline.," 27 Mar. 2019 In 1929, a 20-ton derrick raised and riveted the sphere into place in only 90 minutes, an engineering feat for the time. — Keiko Morris, WSJ, "Chrysler Building, a Famed Slice of Manhattan Skyline, Is on the Block," 9 Jan. 2019 Last fall the nation sat riveted while Christine Blasey Ford and now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. — Abby Gardner, Glamour, "The Time 100 List Includes Both Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh—and People Have Thoughts," 17 Apr. 2019 The next step was to raise it to the topmost arch, where it would be riveted into place. — Jonathan Schifman, Popular Mechanics, "A Friendship Turned to Rivalry. A Feud That Changed the New York Skyline.," 27 Mar. 2019 Her death riveted the country and, sensing the national mood, de Becker turned his attention to stalkers. — Ben Widdicombe, Town & Country, "What Does Gavin de Becker Actually Do for Jeff Bezos?," 8 Feb. 2019 The search and rescue operation has riveted people both in Thailand and internationally, with journalists from across the globe traveling to this town along the border with Myanmar to report on the ordeal. — Kaweewit Kaewjinda And Stephen Wright, chicagotribune.com, "Rescue of remaining 4 boys, coach from flooded Thai cave could take two operations," 9 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rivet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.