fasten Hear it!

fasten Definition

fas·ten (fas′ən, fäs′-)

transitive verb

  1. to join (one thing to another); attach; connect
  2. to make fast or secure, as by locking, shutting, buttoning, etc.; fix firmly in place
  3. to hold, fix, or direct (the attention, gaze, etc.) steadily on something
  4. to cause to be connected or attributed; impute to fasten a crime on someone
  5. to force (oneself) on or upon another in an annoying way

Etymology: ME fastnen < OE fæstnian < base of fæst: see fast

intransitive verb

  1. to become attached or joined
  2. to take a firm hold (on or upon); seize; cling
  3. to concentrate (on or upon)

fasten Synonyms

fasten

v.

  1. To make something secure

    attach, lock, fix, tie, bind, lace, close, shut, affix, adhere, batten, tighten, secure, anchor, moor, strengthen, grip, zip, zip up, button, hook, shutter, grapple, hold, screw down, clasp, clamp, clutch, pin, nail, tack, bolt, rivet, screw, clinch, solder, set, weld, cement, glue, bond, wedge, jam, mortise, twist, fix firmly in position, chain, tether, lash, tie down, hold immovable, hold fixed, hold fast, make secure, make fast, entangle, stick, cinch, cement, bed, embed, catch, buckle, strap, knot, hitch, harness, bar, grasp, seal up; see also bind 1.

    Antonyms release*, loosen*, unfasten. *

  2. To join two or more things

    couple, combine, connect; see join 1.

fasten, the somewhat more general word compared here, implies a joining of one thing to another, as by tying, binding, gluing, nailing, pinning, etc.; tie and bind are often interchangeable, but in discriminating use, tie specif. implies the connection of one thing with another by means of a rope, string, etc. which can be knotted to tie a horse to a hitching post, and bind suggests the use of an encircling band which holds two or more things firmly together to bind someone's legs; attach emphasizes the joining of two or more things in order to keep them together as a unit to attach one's references to an application

fasten Usage Examples

Object

  • seatbelt: Well, the pilot has just turned off the ' fasten seatbelt ' sign!
  • Velcro: I ordered some cotton diapers which you fold and put in a velcro fastened waterproof cover with optional flushable liners.
  • plank: Imagine a bolt, nail or screw fastening a plank to a frame underwater.
  • lid: This system eliminates the need for cable stripping or fastening and no tools are needed to fasten the lid.
  • strap: Has strap lugs to fasten a shoulder strap for active stand-up use.
  • lace: Velcro fastenings are useful for children who cannot fasten laces.

Preposition: with

  • popper: These generally fasten with poppers or velcro, or can be pull on style.
  • Velcro: Wrap Waterproof, breathable cover used over a diaper, fastened with Velcro or poppers.
  • clasp: The lining of the Bag is recycled cotton and fastens with a silver magnetic clasp.
  • fastener: The evening bag has a long silk cord shoulder strap, it's lined in black fabric and fastens with a press fastener.
  • brooch: Men and women wore woolen or linen tunics and cloaks of wool fastened with bronze brooches.
  • buckle: These square-toed, long-tongued shoes bridal shoes, were fastened with buckles or wide bows.

Preposition: at

  • front: Usually fitted with a black leather peak and fastened at the front by two small buttons.

Modifying Another Word

  • securely: The frame should then be fastened securely to the wall.
  • mechanically: Floating - With the floating installation method the floor is not mechanically fastened to any part of the subfloor.
  • tightly: A Gorton woman named THOMAS was found dead on the stairs with a piece of window cord tightly fastened round her neck.
  • firmly: Of course the easy solution to this problem is just to make sure you firmly fasten the glove.
  • temporarily: Sighting along the line allowed the mast band to be lined up and temporarily fastened with a self-tapping screw into the mast button.
  • correctly: Whichever type of helmet you choose, you should make sure that it fits properly and that it is correctly fastened.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • off: Try about 10 lace holes, take off the machine, fasten off, perhaps by just threading the yarn through the open stitches.