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button
1[ buht-n ]
noun
- a small disk, knob, or the like for sewing or otherwise attaching to an article, as of clothing, serving as a fastening when passed through a buttonhole or loop.
- anything resembling a button, especially in being small and round, as any of various candies, ornaments, tags, identification badges, reflectors, markers, etc.
- a badge or emblem bearing a name, slogan, identifying figure, etc., for wear on the lapel, dress, etc.:
campaign buttons.
- any small knob or disk pressed to activate an electric circuit, release a spring, or otherwise operate or open a machine, small door, toy, etc.
- Botany. a bud or other protuberant part of a plant.
- Mycology.
- a young or undeveloped mushroom.
- any protuberant part of a fungus.
- Zoology. any of various small parts or structures resembling a button, as the rattle at the tip of the tail in a very young rattlesnake.
- Boxing Informal. the point of the chin.
- Also called turn button. a fastener for a door, window, etc., having two arms and rotating on a pivot that is attached to the frame.
- Metallurgy. (in assaying) a small globule or lump of metal at the bottom of a crucible after fusion.
- Fencing. the protective, blunting knob fixed to the point of a foil.
- Horology. crown ( def 19 ).
- Computers. (in a graphical user interface) a small, button-shaped or clearly defined area that the user can click on or touch to choose an option.
verb (used with object)
- to fasten with a button or buttons:
She quickly buttoned her coat.
- to insert (a button) in a buttonhole or loop:
He buttoned the top button of his shirt.
- to provide (something) with a button or buttons.
verb (used without object)
- to be capable of being buttoned:
This coat buttons, but that one zips.
Button
2[ buht-n ]
noun
- Richard Tot·ten [tot, -n], Dick, born 1929, U.S. figure skater.
button
/ ˈbʌtən /
noun
- a disc or knob of plastic, wood, etc, attached to a garment, etc, usually for fastening two surfaces together by passing it through a buttonhole or loop
- a small round object, such as any of various sweets, decorations, or badges
- a small disc that completes an electric circuit when pushed, as one that operates a doorbell or machine
- a symbolic representation of a button on the screen of a computer that is notionally depressed by manipulating the mouse to initiate an action
- biology any rounded knoblike part or organ, such as an unripe mushroom
- fencing the protective knob fixed to the point of a foil
- a small amount of metal, usually lead, with which gold or silver is fused, thus concentrating it during assaying
- the piece of a weld that pulls out during the destructive testing of spot welds
- rowing a projection around the loom of an oar that prevents it slipping through the rowlock
- an object of no value (esp in the phrase not worth a button )
- slang.intellect; mental capacity (in such phrases as a button short , to have all one's buttons , etc)
- on the button informal.exactly; precisely
verb
- to fasten with a button or buttons
- tr to provide with buttons
- tr fencing to hit (an opponent) with the button of one's foil
- button one's lip or button up one's lip or button one's mouth or button up one's mouthto stop talking: often imperative
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Derived Forms
- ˈbuttony, adjective
- ˈbuttoner, noun
- ˈbuttonless, adjective
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Other Words From
- button·er noun
- button·like adjective
- mis·button verb (used with object)
- mis·buttoned adjective
- re·button verb (used with object)
- well-buttoned adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of button1
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Idioms and Phrases
- button up, Informal.
- Also button one's lip. to become or keep silent.
- to fasten securely; close up:
Within a short time, everything on the submarine was buttoned up.
- to fasten fully or put on, especially an outer garment:
Button up before going out.
- to complete successfully; finish:
The report is all buttoned up.
- have all one's buttons, Informal. to be mentally competent, alert, and sane; have all one's wits:
At 106 she still has all her buttons.
- on the button, Informal. exactly as desired, expected, specified, etc.:
The prediction for snow was right on the button.
More idioms and phrases containing button
- cute as a button
- have all one's buttons
- on the button
- push (press) someone's buttons
- push the panic button
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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