Engineering English
Bolt
Civil Engineering · Mechanical Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A threaded fastener used to connect steel members, typically installed with a nut and tightened to a specified torque.
Example in context
“The steel beam splice required twenty high-strength bolts in a double shear connection per the design specification.”
“Çelik kiriş eklemi, tasarım şartnamesine göre çift kesmeli bir bağlantıda yirmi yüksek dayanımlı cıvata gerektirdi.”
Where engineers use it
Bolt is central to steel connection design for moment and shear resistance. Engineers specify bolt grade, diameter, and tightening torque in shop drawings and erection plans.
Synonyms: high-strength bolt, fastener
In Mechanical Engineering
An externally threaded fastener designed to pass through aligned holes and be tightened with a nut to clamp parts together.
“The engineer specified a high-strength bolt for the joint because the connection must carry heavy cyclic loads.”
Practice: can you use “Bolt” at work?
A steel erection engineer at a construction site notices that the bolt torque values recorded are significantly lower than the specification. Advise on the potential risks and necessary actions.
Show a model answer
“Check the bolt torque to ensure the connection meets the required preload.”
“Bolt” in 21 languages
| English | Bolt |
|---|---|
| Turkish | cıvata |
| French | boulon |
| German | Schraube |
| Spanish | perno |
| Chinese | 螺栓 |
| Arabic | برغي |
| Portuguese | parafuso |
| Russian | болт |
| Japanese | ボルト |
| Italian | bullone |
| Vietnamese | bu lông |
| Hindi | बोल्ट |
| Thai | โบลท์ |
| Indonesian | baut |
| Korean | 볼트 |
| Bengali | বল্টু |
| Dutch | bout |
| Swedish | bult |
| Finnish | pultti |
| Ukrainian | болт |
Frequently asked questions
What does Bolt mean in engineering?
A threaded fastener used to connect steel members, typically installed with a nut and tightened to a specified torque. In Civil Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Bolt?
Bolt is pronounced /boʊlt/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Bolt used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The steel beam splice required twenty high-strength bolts in a double shear connection per the design specification.”
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