Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, 3rd person singular presenttense rivets, present participle riveting, past tense, past participle riveted
1. verb
If you are riveted by something, it fascinates you and holds your interest completely.
As a child I remember being riveted by my grandfather's appearance. [beVERB-ed]
He was riveted to the Matt Damon movie. [beVERB-ed + to]
The scar on her face had immediately riveted their attention. [VERB noun]
2. countable noun
A rivet is a short metal pin with a flat head which is used to fasten flat pieces of metal together.
rivet in British English
(ˈrɪvɪt)
noun
1.
a short metal pin for fastening two or more pieces together, having a head at one end, the other end being hammered flat after being passed through holes in the pieces
verbWord forms: -ets, -eting or -eted(transitive)
2.
to join by riveting
3.
to hammer in order to form into a head
4. (often passive)
to cause to be fixed or held firmly, as in fascinated attention, horror, etc
to be riveted to the spot
Derived forms
riveter (ˈriveter)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French, from river to fasten, fix, of unknown origin
rivet in American English
(ˈrɪvɪt)
noun
1.
a metal bolt or pin with a head on one end, used to fasten plates or beams together by passing it through holes in them and then hammering down the plain end into a head so as to lock it in place
2.
a similar device used to fasten or strengthen seams, as on work clothes
verb transitive
3.
to fasten with a rivet or rivets
4.
to hammer or spread the end of (a bolt, etc.) into a head, for fastening something
5.
to fasten or secure firmly
6.
to fix or hold (the eyes, attention, etc.) firmly
Derived forms
riveter (ˈriveter)
noun
Word origin
ME ryvette < MFr rivet < river, to clinch < ?
Examples of 'rivet' in a sentence
rivet
This riveting two-part documentary follows her painstaking investigation.
The Sun (2016)
The phrase "weigh others heavy "riveted my attention.
Christianity Today (2000)
He draws the strands together with two riveting themes.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The riveted metal shaft needs to run perfectly smoothly into the wooden shaft or you will get blisters or worse.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is a riveting human drama, an astonishing tale of resilience and technological ingenuity.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It has been a brilliantly written drama, riveting and full of twists and turns.
The Sun (2010)
All 90 minutes of the documentary are riveting.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
All attention is riveted on the faces, which stare past the viewer without a hint of emotion.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
This riveting drama is currently a one-off, but a series must surely follow.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
No, because we've watched something riveting and real.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
IT'S hard to pin down but there is something totally riveting about the Texan band's fourth album.
The Sun (2011)
The case was completely riveting, not least because it was so unlike TV drama.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
rivet
British English: rivet VERB
If you are riveted by something, it fascinates you and holds your interest completely.
As a child I remember being riveted by my grandfather's appearance.