Definition

1. Noun:
   • A band or collar that holds an individual stone in a jewelry setting: A small, often metal, ring or flange used to secure a gemstone in a piece of jewelry, such as a ring or pendant.
   • A cone-shaped chuck used for holding cylindrical pieces in a lathe: A specialized clamping device, typically tapered, used in machining (especially in lathes) to grip a tool or workpiece.
   • A metal cap or band placed on a wooden pole to prevent splitting: A ferrule or metal ring fitted around the end of a wooden shaft to reinforce it and stop it from cracking or fraying.

Examples of Usage

• Jewelry Setting:
  • The diamond was securely held in a simple silver collet.
  • A collet setting allows more light to enter the gemstone from the sides.
• Machining/Lathe:
  • Insert the drill bit into the lathe's collet and tighten it.
  • This collet is designed to hold round shanks up to 10mm in diameter.
• Reinforcement for Poles:
  • The old broom handle was strengthened with a brass collet.
  • Apply a collet to the end of the walking stick to prevent it from splitting.

Advanced Usage

• "Collet chuck": A specific type of chuck that uses a collet as its clamping mechanism.
  • The precision of a collet chuck is superior for repetitive turning operations.
• "Collet pencil": A mechanical pencil where the lead is held and advanced by a small collet mechanism.
  • He prefers a collet pencil because it grips the lead more firmly.

Variants and Related Words

• Colleted (adj): Describing something that is fitted with or secured by a collet.
  • A colleted gemstone setting.
• Collet closer (n): A device or mechanism used to tighten a collet in a machine tool.

Synonyms

• For Jewelry: Bezel, setting, mount.
• For Machining: Chuck, clamp, sleeve, ferrule.
• For Pole Reinforcement: Ferrule, band, ring, cap.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: "Collet" is primarily a noun and does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

(Note: There are no common idioms specifically featuring the word "collet.")

Noun

1. a band or collar that holds an individual stone in a jewelry setting
2. a cone-shaped chuck used for holding cylindrical pieces in a lathe
3. a metal cap or band placed on a wooden pole to prevent splitting