riveted

Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Encyclopedia.

riv·et

(rĭv′ĭt)

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.

tr.v. riv·et·ed, riv·et·ing, riv·ets

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

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

a. To fix the attention of (someone): The audience was riveted by the suspense.

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

[Middle English, from Old French river, to attach.]

riv′et·er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

riveted

(ˈrɪvɪtɪd)

adj

fascinated; transfixed

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

riveted

adjective

1. rooted, fixed, frozen, motionless, immobile, unable to move, stock still They stood aghast, riveted to the spot.

2. fascinated, absorbed, entranced, captivated, enthralled, engrossed, rapt, spellbound, mesmerized, hypnotized The Germans and Italians are riveted by his songs.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

References in classic literature ?

So when in time a son was born the infant's feet were riveted together and he was left to die on Mount Cithaeron.

View in context

All this time, I was getting on towards the river; but however fast I went, I couldn't warm my feet, to which the damp cold seemed riveted, as the iron was riveted to the leg of the man I was running to meet.

View in context

The blow produced a metallic sound; and, incredible though it may be, it seemed, I might say, as if it was made of riveted plates.

View in context

The trapper pointed to a flight of vultures, that were sailing over the plain at no great distance, and apparently in the direction in which the Pawnee had riveted his eye.

The flanks of the dark, moving mass, were advanced in such a manner as to make a concave line of the front, and every fierce eye, that was glaring from the shaggy wilderness of hair in which the entire heads of the males were enveloped, was riveted with mad anxiety on the thicket.

View in context

He gave me an extraordinary impression as he sat there, his attention riveted on his game -- an impression of great strength; and I could not understand why it was that his emaciation somehow made it more striking.

View in context

Among other things, I observed that the door that I was holding open was of heavy iron plates, riveted. Equidistant from one another and from the top and bottom, three strong bolts protruded from the beveled edge.

View in context

The Indian riveted his glowing eyes on Heyward as he asked, in his imperfect English, "Is he alone?"

He even suffered their hands to meet, without betraying the least emotion, or varying his riveted attitude of attention.

View in context

When he halted before the binnacle, with his glance fastened on the pointed needle in the compass, that glance shot like a javelin with the pointed intensity of his purpose; and when resuming his walk he again paused before the mainmast, then, as the same riveted glance fastened upon the riveted gold coin there, he still wore the same aspect of nailed firmness, only dashed with a certain wild longing, if not hopefulness.

View in context

said I, again riveted with the insane earnestness of his manner.

View in context

My attention was quickly riveted by a large red star close to the distant horizon.