fasten

[ fas-uhn, fah-suhn ]

/ ˈfæs ən, ˈfɑ sən /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR fasten ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to attach firmly or securely in place; fix securely to something else.

to make secure, as an article of dress with buttons, clasps, etc., or a door with a lock, bolt, etc.

to enclose securely, as a person or an animal (usually followed by in): to fasten a monkey in a cage.

to attach, associate, or connect: to fasten a nickname on someone.

to direct (the eyes, thoughts, etc.) intently: to fasten one's eyes on a speaker.

verb (used without object)

to become fast, fixed, or firm.

to close firmly or securely; lock: This clasp won't fasten.

to take a firm hold; seize (usually followed by on or upon): to fasten on an idea.

to focus attention; concentrate (usually followed by on or upon): His gaze fastened on the jewels.

Origin of fasten

before 900; Middle English fastenen, Old English fæstnian; cognate with Old Norse fastna to betroth; akin to fast¹

SYNONYMS FOR fasten

1 connect, link, hook, clasp, clinch, rivet, clamp, bind, tie, tether.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR fasten ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM fasten

re·fas·ten, verb (used with object) well-fas·tened, adjective

Words nearby fasten

fast-talk, fast-track, fast-twitch, fastback, fastball, fasten, fastener, fastening, fastidious, fastie, fastigiate

Example sentences from the Web for fasten

They fasten their seat belts to drive one hundred yards across a parking lot.

The Stacks: The Searing Story of How Murder Stalked a Tiny New York Town |E. Jean Carroll |April 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
His biggest apparent weakness: an inability to fasten more than two buttons on his shirt.

Krrish 3 Review: What the Bollywood Movie Steals From Superhero Films |Sujay Kumar |November 6, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Fasten your seat belts—this is going to be a wild four-week ride.

South Carolina Special Election Has All the Makings of a Scandal-Filled Telenovela |John Avlon |April 3, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
In any case, once he made his rope, how did he fasten it to a metal grill eight feet above the ground?

Cheated by Death: No Euphoria in Ram Singh’s Hanging |Dilip D’Souza |March 12, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

In the meantime, as Bette Davis used to say, fasten your seatbelts.

Let the Democrats Win |Christopher Buckley |April 14, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
“I will fasten up your dress in the neck if that is what you want,” said she.

The Shoulders of Atlas |Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
Sahwah suggested that we print our inquiry on a pennant and fasten it across the front of the car.

The Campfire Girls Go Motoring |Hildegard G. Frey
Door-latches were made of wood, also oblong buttons to fasten chamber and cupboard doors.

Home Life in Colonial Days |Alice Morse Earle
Before basting the tape down on the wrong side, fasten the elastic in place on one side of the sleeve protector.

Handicraft for Girls |Idabelle McGlauflin
"I'll close the shutters and fasten a blanket over the window," said Mr. Bobbsey.

The Bobbsey Twins at Home |Laura Lee Hope

British Dictionary definitions for fasten

fasten

/ (ˈfɑːsən) /

verb

to make or become fast or secure

to make or become attached or joined

to close or become closed by fixing firmly in place, locking, etc

(tr; foll by in or up) to enclose or imprison

(tr usually foll by on) to cause (blame, a nickname, etc) to be attached (to); place (on) or impute (to)

(usually foll by on or upon) to direct or be directed in a concentrated way; fix he fastened his gaze on the girl

(intr usually foll by on) take firm hold (of)

Derived forms of fasten

fastener, noun

Word Origin for fasten

Old English fæstnian; related to Old Norse fastna to pledge, Old High German fastinōn to make fast; see fast 1

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

fasten

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of fasten

SYNONYMS FOR fasten

OTHER WORDS FROM fasten

Words nearby fasten

Example sentences from the Web for fasten

British Dictionary definitions for fasten

verb

Derived forms of fasten

Word Origin for fasten

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

fasten

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of fasten

SYNONYMS FOR fasten

OTHER WORDS FROM fasten

Words nearby fasten

Words related to fasten

Example sentences from the Web for fasten

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for fasten

verb

Derived forms of fasten

Word Origin for fasten

British Dictionary definitions for fasten