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1. Capable of arousing and holding the attention
   "a riveting story"
   - absorbing, engrossing, fascinating, gripping

1. Direct one's attention on something
   - concentrate, focus, center [US], centre [Brit, Cdn], pore
    
2. Fasten with a rivet or rivets
    
3. Hold (someone's attention)
   "The discovery of the skull riveted the palaeontologists"

See also: interesting, rivetter

Type of: absorb, cerebrate, cogitate, engage, engross, fasten, fix, occupy, secure, think

Encyclopedia: Rivet