I. ˈbət ə n noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English boton, from Middle French boton, bouton, from Old French, from boter, bouter to strike, thrust — more at butt (to thrust)
1.
a. : a disk, ball, or device of other shape having holes or a shank by which it is sewn or secured to an article (as of clothing or upholstery) and that is used as a fastener by passing it through a buttonhole or loop or as a trimming and is made of glass, shell, bone, wood, leather, or cloth
on Fortune's Cap, we are not the very Button — Shakespeare
b. : an ornament or badge of similar shape often of metal with a stamped design or of plastic with a slogan imprinted on the face
c. : a thing of slight value
not worth a button
d. : a unit of one inch used in determining length of gloves and measured from base of thumb towards wrist
a 12- button glove reaches nearly to the elbow
e. buttons plural but singular in construction
[so called from the buttons on his livery]
now chiefly Britain : page , bellboy
2. : any of various parts or growths of plants resembling buttons: as
a. : bud
b. : the fruit of a rose or the flower head of one of the Compositae
a button chrysanthemum
c. : a small round seed vessel
d. : an immature whole mushroom ; especially : one just before expansion of the pileus
e. : an abnormally small fruit
f. : an onion bulb or a garlic clove
3. : a small knob or piece resembling a button in shape: as
a. : an incipient or stunted growth of horn (as in the calf or stag) — see scur
b. buttons plural : dung especially of a sheep
c. : the terminal segment of a rattlesnake's rattle
d. : a uterine cotyledon
e. : a small mass or globule of metal remaining after fusion (as at the bottom of a crucible or cupel)
4. West : youngster , boy
5. : a device suggestive of a button: as
a. : an oblong or elongated piece of wood or metal turning on a nail, pin, or screw (as to fasten a door or window)
b. : a leather washer for a nail or screw
c. : push button
d. : the knob in the end block to which the tailpiece of a stringed instrument (as a violin) is anchored
e. : a marker in the pavement indicating a proper pivoting point for traffic or one of a set marking vehicle or pedestrian lanes
f. : a leather ring running along the reins of a bridle for tightening or loosening it
g. : a guard on the tip of a fencing foil
h. : one of the push buttons on a musical instrument (as an accordion)
i. : the earpiece of a hearing aid
6. slang : the point of the chin especially as the target for a knockout blow
the next punch landed square on the button
7. : a small white spot on the throat or chest of a solid-colored cat
8. buttons plural , slang : wits
hasn't got all his buttons
•
- on the button
II. verb
( buttoned ; buttoned ; buttoning ˈbət( ə )niŋ ; buttons )
Etymology: Middle English botonen, from Middle French botoner, from Old French, from boton, n., button
transitive verb
1. : to furnish or decorate with buttons
2.
a. : to pass (a button) through a buttonhole or loop
b. : to fasten, secure, or close with a button — often used with up
button up your overcoat
he buttoned his brother's jacket
3. : to close (the lips) to prevent speech
keep your lip buttoned about this business
intransitive verb
1. : to have buttons for fastening
this jacket buttons at the side
2.
a. of fruit : to form buttons
b. : to head prematurely (as of cauliflower)
III. noun
1. : a mescal button chewed for its hallucinogenic effect
2. : a button that has the real or symbolic capability of initiating a nuclear attack
3. : a hidden sensitivity that can be manipulated by another person to produce a desired response
really knows how to push her buttons
4. : a usually box-shaped icon on a computer screen that initiates a specific software function when clicked on with a mouse