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Glite Dictionary
rivet line

rivet line

7.6
A row of metal pins along a joint that hold two pieces together
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : línea de remaches
  • The structural integrity of the bridge depends on a strong rivet line holding the beams together.

Examples

  • The welders inspected the rivet line for any signs of weakness or corrosion.

  • The rivet line was expertly crafted to ensure durability.

  • A visible crack formed parallel to the rivet line after years of stress on the structure.

  • During restoration, several bolts along the rivet line had to be replaced due to fatigue.

  • Can you see the rivet line on this metal sheet?

  • The engineers marked the rivet line to ensure precise alignment during assembly.

  • Before painting, they cleaned the area around the rivet line to prevent future corrosion.

Surface Forms

rivet line singular
rivet lines plural

Morphology

rivet + line

The meaning 'a row of rivets' is directly and compositionally derived from 'rivet' (a metal pin) + 'line' (a straight formation), following standard English noun–noun compounding patterns. Although somewhat technical, the phrase is literal and cross-linguistically comparable, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Rivet line comes from work where people join metal by hammering many rivets in a straight line along where two plates meet. The image of that neat row of bumps that 'hold' the pieces together is why it means 'a row of rivets used to join or reinforce materials'.