Nearby Words
Trims And Buttons Inc. www.buttons4u.com/ Bargain, Best prices online,Buttons Beads,Trims,Crystals,Pearls,Chains
Dictionary.com's Mobile Apps www.dictionary.com/mobile Ad-Free, Offline Content, Audio Pronunciation and More! Take Millions of Words With You Everywhere. Download Now!
Ads
noun
1.
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.
2.
anything resembling a button, especially in being small and round, as any of various candies, ornaments, tags, identification badges, reflectors, markers, etc.
3.
a badge or emblem bearing a name, slogan, identifying figure, etc., for wear on the lapel, dress, etc.: campaign buttons.
4.
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.
5.
EXPANDBotany. a bud or other protuberant part of a plant.
6.
Mycology.
a.
a young or undeveloped mushroom.
b.
any protuberant part of a fungus.
7.
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.
8.
Boxing Informal. the point of the chin.
9.
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.
10.
Metallurgy. (in assaying) a small globule or lump of metal at the bottom of a crucible after fusion.
11.
Fencing. the protective, blunting knob fixed to the point of a foil.
12.
Horology. crown (def. 19).
13.
COLLAPSEComputers. (in a graphical user interface) any of the small, labeled areas upon which the user can click with a mouse to choose an option.
verb (used with object)
14.
to fasten with a button or buttons: She quickly buttoned her coat.
15.
to insert (a button) in a buttonhole or loop: He buttoned the top button of his shirt.
16.
to provide (something) with a button or buttons.
00:10
00:09
00:08
00:07
00:06
00:05
00:04
00:03
00:02
00:01
On the button
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
verb (used without object)
Idioms17.
to be capable of being buttoned: This coat buttons, but that one zips.
18.
button up, Informal.
a.
Also, button one's lip. to become or keep silent.
b.
to fasten securely; close up: Within a short time, everything on the submarine was buttoned up.
c.
to fasten fully or put on, especially an outer garment: Button up before going out.
d.
to complete successfully; finish: The report is all buttoned up.
19.
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.
20.
on the button, Informal. exactly as desired, expected, specified, etc.: The prediction for snow was right on the button.
Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English boto(u)n < Anglo-French: rosehip, button, stud; Middle French boton, equivalent to boter to butt3 + -on noun suffix
1275–1325; Middle English boto(u)n < Anglo-French: rosehip, button, stud; Middle French boton, equivalent to boter to butt3 + -on noun suffix
Related forms
but·ton·er, noun
but·ton·like, adjective
mis·but·ton, verb (used with object)
mis·but·toned, adjective
re·but·ton, verb (used with object)
EXPANDwell-but·toned, adjective
COLLAPSE
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
|
Link To on the button
Slang Dictionary
on the button definitionand on the bean
|
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
on the button
Exactly right, precisely, as in Her review of the book was right on the button, or We're supposed to be there at six o'clock on the button. This term may come from boxing, where a punch on the button means "a punch on the chin." [Colloquial; c. 1900] Also see on the dot.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Word Dynamo By Dictionary.com
Idioms & Phrases
Matching Quote
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
