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rivet
rivet headed metal pin or bolt whose shaft is passed through holes in two or more pieces of metal, wood, plastic, or other material in order to unite them by forming the plain end into a second head. The button-head rivet has a hemispherical head; the countersunk-head rivet has a flat head made to fit a countersunk hole. A large rivet for building construction is first heated so that the pneumatic hammer used to set it can more easily squash the plain end into a head. When the hot rivet cools, it shrinks and pulls the parts tightly together. For critical work, holes are drilled and reamed to exact size; for most other work they are punched. Full tubular and split rivets can be driven through soft materials without the necessity of first making a hole; after passing through the materials, the rivets' plain ends spread out to form heads as they strike a hard substance. More complicated blind rivets are used when only one side of the work is accessible. The mandrel type is a tube in which a rod with an enlarged end is inserted. After the rivet is pushed into the hole, the rod is pulled back through, crushing the end of the rivet into a head and forcing the sides of the tube against the walls of the hole. The drive-pin type is a tube with an opening at the headless end smaller than at the head end. As the pin is driven through from the head end, it spreads the tube out over the edge of the hole. The explosive blind rivet is filled with an explosive; when the head is heated with an iron, the explosive ignites and expands the headless end over the edge of the hole. Rivets are made of steel, aluminum, copper, and many other metals, and of plastics. |
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Cite this article
"rivet." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rivet." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-rivet.html "rivet." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-rivet.html |
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rivet
riv·et
/ ˈrivit/
•
n.
a short metal pin or bolt for holding together two plates of metal, its headless end being beaten out or pressed down when in place.
∎
a similar device for holding seams of clothing together.
•
v.
(riv·et·ed, riv·et·ing
) [tr.]
join or fasten (plates of metal or other material) with a rivet or rivets:
the linings are bonded, not riveted, to the brake shoes for longer wear.
∎
hold (someone or something) fast so as to make them incapable of movement:
the grip on her arm was firm enough to rivet her to the spot.
∎
attract and completely engross (someone):
he was riveted by the reports shown on television |
[as adj.] (riveting)
a riveting story.
∎ (usu. be riveted)
direct (one's eyes or attention) intently:
all eyes were riveted on him.
DERIVATIVES:
riv·et·er
n.
riv·et·ing·ly adv.
rivet |
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Cite this article
"rivet." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rivet." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-rivet.html "rivet." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-rivet.html |
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rivet
rivet small nail or bolt. XIV. — OF., f. river fix, clinch, of unkn. orig.
Hence vb. XIV. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "rivet." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "rivet." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-rivet.html T. F. HOAD. "rivet." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-rivet.html |
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rivet
rivet •davit • brevet • velvet • affidavit
•civet, privet, rivet, trivet
•private • covet • aquavit • banquet
•halfwit • peewit • dimwit • nitwit
•exquisite, visit
•requisite • perquisite
•closet, posit
•apposite • opposite • composite
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Cite this article
"rivet." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "rivet." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-rivet.html "rivet." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-rivet.html |
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