push button

¹

or pushbutton

noun

1. a device designed to close or open an electric circuit when a button or knob is depressed, and to return to a normal position when it is released.
2. the button or knob depressed.

push-button

²

[ poosh-buht-n ]

adjective

1. operated by or as if by push buttons:

   push-button tuning.

2. using complex, automated weapons, as long-range missiles, that require only simple initial steps to put them into action:

   push-button warfare.

push button

noun

1. an electrical switch operated by pressing a button, which closes or opens a circuit
2. push-button modifier
   1. operated by a push button

      a push-button radio

   2. initiated as simply as by pressing a button

      push-button warfare

Word History and Origins

Origin of push button¹

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Origin of push button²

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Example Sentences

Auto-turn steering also means no tricky levers or triggers to manipulate—just press the electric push button and start carving.

From Popular-Science

Instead, you use the key fob, your smartphone or a push button on the window frame to pop open the door.

From Washington Blade

You’ve got four to eight of those push buttons for pedestrian crossings.

From Freakonomics

The solution is a push button at the bottom of the window above a small protruding ledge put there to give you something to pull the door open.

From Popular-Science

Hypersonic drones, like the drones before them, are the latest innovation in push-button warfare.

From The Daily Beast

The latest in push button warfare, hypersonic weapons have launched a new arms race among the big powers—emphasis on the race.

From The Daily Beast

With ordinary connections to the push button and motor, the mechanism will only run while the push button is being pressed.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the wires from the coil is attached to a push button, H, to be used when a reading of the instrument is made.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Garwell touched a push-button on his desk, and a clerk appeared.

From Project Gutenberg

And beside the push button set-up was a ledger containing a list of names with their cell numbers.

From Project Gutenberg

Each flare was controlled by a push button in the pilot's cockpit.

From Project Gutenberg