fastener
FAS-ner
/ˈfɑːs.nər/
A hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together securely.
Fastener is an umbrella term that covers screws, bolts, nails, rivets, and clips, emphasizing their function of holding things together.
The story behind the word. Fastener comes from the verb 'fasten', which traces back to the Old English 'fæstnian', meaning 'to make firm, secure, or constant'. This is linked to the adjective 'fast' in its older sense of 'firmly fixed' (as in 'hold fast').
Word relationships
- connector: A connector is a general term for anything that links two parts (including electrical wires), while a fastener is specifically a mechanical hardware item.
- binding: Binding refers to materials like rope, tape, or glue, whereas a fastener is typically a rigid hardware component.
- releaser: A releaser is a mechanism designed to free or uncouple joined parts.
Commonly confused with
- anchor: An anchor is a specific type of fastener used to secure objects to hollow walls or concrete, whereas fastener is the general category.
Word family
- fasten (verb): to attach or secure firmly
- fastened (adjective): firmly attached or closed
Collocations
- threaded fastener
- metal fastener
- mechanical fastener
- secure a fastener
Example sentences
- "The flat-pack wardrobe came with a bag containing every necessary metal fastener, including screws, wooden dowels, and cam locks." Furniture assembly
- "The aerospace engineer insisted on using titanium fasteners to reduce the weight of the aircraft frame without sacrificing strength." Manufacturing standards
Memory hook
A 'fastener' makes things hold 'fast' so they don't move or fall apart. Fasteners hold things fast.
When not to use
Do not use fastener to describe chemical adhesives like glue or epoxy, which bond surfaces chemically rather than mechanically.
Fun facts
- The industrial fastener industry produces over 200 billion fasteners per year in the United States alone to support manufacturing and construction.
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