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Synonyms

boutonniere

American  
[boot-n-eer, boo-tuhn-yair] / ˌbut nˈɪər, ˌbu tənˈyɛər /

noun

  1. a flower or small bouquet worn, usually by a man, in the buttonhole of a lapel.


boutonniere British  
/ ˌbʊtɒnɪˈɛə /

noun

  1. another name for buttonhole

"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

Etymology

Origin of boutonniere

1875–80; < French boutonnière buttonhole ( bouton button + -ière suffix for things that facilitate the use of that denoted by the stem < Latin -āria -ary

Compare meaning

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Explanation

A boutonniere is a flower or flowers worn in a buttonhole of a man's suit. A boutonniere is a fancy decoration that you might wear to your prom. Have you ever seen a flower poking out of a buttonhole in a man's suit? If so, you have seen a boutonniere. This is a French word for a flowers or flowers decorating a suit in this way. If you're wearing a suit and want to make it a little more colorful, a boutonniere is one way to do so. Just make sure you pick a flower for your boutonniere that goes well with your suit.

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Vocabulary lists containing boutonniere

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Boutonniere was a Carnation against a Leaf of Geranium with Tin Foil below, which is no longer being done in the Best Families.

From Knocking the Neighbors by Ade, George