Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - fasten

(fastens, fastening, fastened) 1. When you fasten something, you close it by means of buttons or a strap, or some other device. If something fastens with buttons or straps, you can close it in this way. She got quickly into her Mini and fastened the seat-belt... Her long fair hair was fastened at the nape of her neck by an elastic band. ...the dress, which fastens with a long back zip. = do up VERB: V n, be V-ed prep, V prep, also V n prep 2. If you fasten one thing to another, you attach the first thing to the second, for example with a piece of string or tape. There were no instructions on how to fasten the carrying strap to the box... = attach VERB: V n prep/adv 3. see also fastening