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button definition

but·ton (but′'n)

noun

  1. any small disk, knob, etc. used as a fastening or ornament, as one put through a buttonhole on a garment
  2. anything small and shaped like a button; specif.,
    1. a small emblem of membership, distinction, etc., generally worn in the lapel
    2. a small knoblike part, as a bud on a plant or the end of a rattlesnake's rattles
    3. a small knoblike part that is pushed or turned to operate a doorbell, electric lamp, etc.
    4. a guard on the tip of a fencing foil
    5. a small, immature mushroom
  3. ☆ Slang the point of the chin

Etymology: ME botoun < OFr boton, a button, bud < buter: see butt

transitive verb, intransitive verb

  1. to fasten with or as with a button or buttons
  2. to provide or be provided with a button or buttons

Related Forms:

button Idioms

button up (one's lip)

Slang to refrain from talking; esp., to keep a secret

on the button

☆
Slang exactly at the desired point, time, objective, etc.

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms button idiom

medical button definition - medical

button Synonyms

button

n.

knob, catch, disk, badge, pin, snap, frog, clasp, switch, dial, key; see also fastener.

on the button*

exactly, precisely, squarely, on target*; see accurate 1, 2, accurately.


button

v.

close, clasp, fasten, snap; see fasten 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

button Usage Examples

Preposition: on

  • toolbar: Click the " I " button on the toolbar.

Preposition: at

  • bottom: There is also a Back button at the bottom left of every page.

Adjective modifier

  • OK: Click on the OK button to close the Bibliographic data window.

Converse of object

  • press: Press the button marked Accept to register the legend settings.

Noun used with modifier

  • mouse: Press the left mouse button near the object to be moved.

Possessives

  • browser: Use your browser's Back button to return to this page.

Preposition: in

  • toolbar: To enable the Terrain Editing Mode, press the mountain button in the left toolbar.

Modifies a noun

  • mushroom: Serve with home-made chips, grilled tomatoes, garden peas and a few button mushrooms.
button usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

button quotes

Sic a wife as Willie's wife, I wad na gie a button for her.

-Burns, Robert

So she went into the garden to cut a cabbage-leaf, to make an apple-pie; and at the same time a great she- bear coming up the street, pops its head into the shop. 'What! no soap?' So he died and she very imprudently married the barber; and there were present the Picninnies, and the Joblillies, and the Garyulies, and the Grand Panjandrumhimself, withthelittleround buttonat top; and they all fell to playing the game of catch-as- catch-can till the gunpowder ran out of theheels of their boots.

-Foote, Samuel

They called aloud 'Our Sieve ain't big, But we don't care a button! We don't care a fig!'

-Lear, Edward

button quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"button." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/button>

APA Style

button. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/button

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