■ noun
1》 a small disc or knob sewn on to a garment, either to fasten it by being pushed through a ~hole or for decoration.
2》 chiefly N. Amer. a decorative badge pinned to clothing.
3》 a knob on a piece of electrical or electronic equipment which is pressed to operate it.
4》 Fencing a knob fitted to the point of a foil to make it harmless.
■ verb
1》 fasten or be fastened with ~s.
2》 ( ~ it ) informal stop talking.
3》 ( ~ something up ) informal complete something satisfactorily.
Phrases
~ one's lip informal stop or refrain from talking.
on the ~ informal, chiefly N. Amer. precisely.
push (or press ) someone's ~s informal provoke a reaction in someone.
Derivatives
-~ed adjective
~less adjective
~y adjective
Origin
ME: from OFr. bouton , of Gmc origin and related to butt 1 .