button

button
n. & v.
—n.
1 a small disc or knob sewn on to a garment, either to fasten it by being pushed through a buttonhole, or as an ornament or badge.
2 a knob on a piece of esp. electronic equipment which is pressed to operate it.
3 a a small round object (chocolate buttons). b (attrib.) anything resembling a button (button nose).
4 a a bud. b a button mushroom.
5 Fencing a terminal knob on a foil making it harmless.
—v.
1 tr. & intr. = button up 1.
2 tr. supply with buttons.
Phrases and idioms:
buttonball tree (or button wood) US a plane-tree, Platanus occidentalis. button chrysanthemum a variety of chrysanthemum with small spherical flowers. buttoned up colloq.
1 formal and inhibited in manner.
2 silent. button one's lip esp. US sl. remain silent. button mushroom a young unopened mushroom. button-through (of a dress) fastened with buttons from neck to hem like a coat.
button up
1 fasten with buttons.
2 colloq. complete (a task etc.) satisfactorily.
3 colloq. become silent. not worth a button worthless. on the button esp. US sl. precisely.
Derivatives:
buttoned adj. buttonless adj. buttony adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF bouton, ult. f. Gmc

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • Button — (engl. für Knopf) ist ein Bedienelement in grafischen Benutzeroberflächen; siehe Schaltfläche die englische Bezeichnung für Taste/Knopf, siehe auch Button mashing (bei Computerspielen) eine Form von Anstecknadeln, die in den 1980er Jahren populär …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • button — but‧ton [ˈbʌtn] noun [countable] 1. something that you press to make a machine or piece of electrical equipment do something : • She got in the elevator and pressed the button for the top floor. • What happens if I push this button? 2. COMPUTING… …   Financial and business terms

  • Button — But ton, n. [OE. boton, botoun, F. bouton button, bud, prop. something pushing out, fr. bouter to push. See {Butt} an end.] 1. A knob; a small ball; a small, roundish mass. [1913 Webster] 2. A catch, of various forms and materials, used to fasten …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • button ad — ˈbutton ad also ˈbutton adˌvertisement, button noun [countable] MARKETING an advertisement in a small square or circle on a webpage: • Button ads are a cheap but effective way of advertising your company s products. * * * …   Financial and business terms

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  • button — ► NOUN 1) a small disc or knob sewn on to a garment to fasten it by being pushed through a buttonhole. 2) a knob on a piece of electrical or electronic equipment which is pressed to operate it. 3) chiefly N. Amer. a decorative badge pinned to… …   English terms dictionary

  • button — mid 13c. (implied in botouner button maker ), from O.Fr. boton (Fr. bouton) a button, bud (12c.), from bouter, boter to thrust (see BUTT (Cf. butt) (v.)). Thus a button is, etymologically, something that pushes up, or thrusts out. The verb is… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Button — But ton, v. i. To be fastened by a button or buttons; as, the coat will not button. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Button — But ton, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Buttoned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Buttoning}.] [OE. botonen, OF. botoner, F. boutonner. See {Button}, n.] 1. To fasten with a button or buttons; to inclose or make secure with buttons; often followed by up. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • button it — informal + impolite used to tell someone to stop talking She angrily told him to button it. • • • Main Entry: ↑button …   Useful english dictionary

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