button

¹

[ buht-n ]

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. Botany. a bud or other protuberant part of a plant.
6. Mycology.
   1. a young or undeveloped mushroom.
   2. 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. 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)

1. to fasten with a button or buttons:

   She quickly buttoned her coat.

2. to insert (a button) in a buttonhole or loop:

   He buttoned the top button of his shirt.

3. to provide (something) with a button or buttons.

verb (used without object)

1. to be capable of being buttoned:

   This coat buttons, but that one zips.

Button

²

[ buht-n ]

noun

1. Richard Tot·ten [tot, -n], Dick, born 1929, U.S. figure skater.

button

/ ˈbʌtən /

noun

1. 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
2. a small round object, such as any of various sweets, decorations, or badges
3. a small disc that completes an electric circuit when pushed, as one that operates a doorbell or machine
4. a symbolic representation of a button on the screen of a computer that is notionally depressed by manipulating the mouse to initiate an action
5. biology any rounded knoblike part or organ, such as an unripe mushroom
6. fencing the protective knob fixed to the point of a foil
7. a small amount of metal, usually lead, with which gold or silver is fused, thus concentrating it during assaying
8. the piece of a weld that pulls out during the destructive testing of spot welds
9. rowing a projection around the loom of an oar that prevents it slipping through the rowlock
10. an object of no value (esp in the phrase not worth a button )
11. slang.
    intellect; mental capacity (in such phrases as a button short , to have all one's buttons , etc)
12. on the button informal.
    exactly; precisely

verb

1. to fasten with a button or buttons
2. tr to provide with buttons
3. tr fencing to hit (an opponent) with the button of one's foil
4. button one's lip or button up one's lip or button one's mouth or button up one's mouth
   to stop talking: often imperative

Derived Forms

• ˈbuttony, adjective
• ˈbuttoner, noun
• ˈbuttonless, adjective

Other Words From

• 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)
• well-buttoned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of button¹

1275–1325; Middle English boto ( u ) n < Anglo-French: rosehip, button, stud; Middle French boton, equivalent to boter to butt ³ + -on noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of button¹

C14: from Old French boton , from boter to thrust, butt, of Germanic origin; see butt ³

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. button up, Informal.
   1. Also button one's lip. to become or keep silent.
   2. to fasten securely; close up:

      Within a short time, everything on the submarine was buttoned up.

   3. to fasten fully or put on, especially an outer garment:

      Button up before going out.

   4. to complete successfully; finish:

      The report is all buttoned up.

2. 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.

3. 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

Example Sentences

Preschoolers press the buttons on the head of the Fisher Price Code 'n Learn Kinderbot to tell the machine to carry out basic movements, like rolling forward.

From Popular-Science

When it comes to a speedy camera launch, most Android phones let you double-tap the power button to launch the camera.

From Popular-Science

Apple chose to put the button on top so that the iPad Air’s display could “extend to all sides,” Legros said.

From Fortune

Choose the frozen program and click on the End Task button in the bottom right.

From Popular-Science

A revised iPad Air, which typically starts at $500, will follow the iPad Pro models and Apple’s phones in ditching the home button.

From Fortune

Gay marriage was the hot-button fight on the left and right.

From The Daily Beast

Clad in a blue, striped button-down, a silver watch adorning his left wrist, Huckabee beams on the cover.

From The Daily Beast

In a hot-button cover story interview with Vanity Fair, Lawrence explained it best.

From The Daily Beast

There is a disconnect, which allows for some distance between his actions and your button presses.

From The Daily Beast

I pressed the dime-sized rubber button on my vest, which was linked to my radio.

From The Daily Beast

"I verily believe they're gone to look at my button," cried Davy, beginning to laugh, in spite of his fears.

From Project Gutenberg

Button Gwinnett, one of the signers, died of a wound received in a duel.

From Project Gutenberg

They are brown, ovoid in shape, about 50 long, and have a button-like projection at each end (Fig. 101).

From Project Gutenberg

This is then suspended from a button on the trousers so that the bottle rests against the skin of the inguinal region.

From Project Gutenberg

As soon as the door had closed, Jack Carlson bounded back to his desk, touched a button on an inter-office communications box.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dial
• knob
• switch