buttonhole

[ buht-n-hohl ]
See synonyms for: buttonholebuttonholedbuttonholing on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the hole, slit, or loop through which a button is passed and by which it is secured.

  2. Chiefly British. a boutonniere.

  1. Surgery. a short, straight incision through the wall of a cavity or a canal.

verb (used with object),but·ton·holed, but·ton·hol·ing.
  1. to sew with a buttonhole stitch.

  2. to make buttonholes in.

  1. to hold by the buttonhole or otherwise abruptly detain (someone) in conversation: The reporter tried to buttonhole the mayor for a statement on the bus strike.

Origin of buttonhole

1
First recorded in 1555–65; button + hole

Other words from buttonhole

  • but·ton·hol·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use buttonhole in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for buttonhole

buttonhole

/ (ˈbʌtənˌhəʊl) /


noun
  1. a slit in a garment, etc, through which a button is passed to fasten two surfaces together

  2. a flower or small bunch of flowers worn pinned to the lapel or in the buttonhole, esp at weddings, formal dances, etc: US name: boutonniere

verb(tr)
  1. to detain (a person) in conversation

  2. to make buttonholes in

  1. to sew with buttonhole stitch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012