rivet

noun

A metal bolt or pin having a head on one end, inserted through aligned holes in the pieces to be joined and then hammered on the plain end so as to form a second head.

transitive verb

To fasten or secure, especially with a rivet or rivets.

transitive verb

To hammer and bend or flatten the headless end of (a nail or bolt) so as to fasten something.

transitive verb

To fix the attention of (someone).

transitive verb

To engross or hold (the gaze or attention, for example).

noun

A short metallic malleable pin or bolt passing through a hole and so fastened as to keep pieces of metal (or sometimes other substances) together; especially, a short bolt or pin of wrought-iron, copper, or of any other malleable material, formed with a head and inserted into a hole at the junction of two or more pieces of metal, the point after insertion being hammered broad so as to keep the pieces closely bound together.

To fasten with a rivet or with rivets: as, to rivet two pieces of iron.

To clench: as, to rivet a pin or bolt.

Figuratively, to fasten firmly; make firm, strong, or immovable: as, to rivet friendship.