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definitions

Idioms

    bite one's lip/tongue, to repress one's anger or other emotions: He wanted to return the insult, but bit his lip.
    button one's lip, Slang. to keep silent, especially, to refrain from revealing information: They told him to button his lip if he didn't want trouble.Also button up.
    hang on the lips of, to listen to very attentively: The members of the club hung on the lips of the visiting lecturer.
    keep a stiff upper lip,
    1. to face misfortune bravely and resolutely: Throughout the crisis they kept a stiff upper lip.
    2. to suppress the display of any emotion.
    smack one's lips, to indicate one's keen enjoyment or pleasurable anticipation of: We smacked our lips over the delicious meal.

Origin of lip

before 1000; Middle English lip(pe), Old English lippa; cognate with Dutch lip, German Lippe; akin to Norwegian lepe, Latin labium
Related formslip·less, adjectivelip·like, adjectiveout·lip, verb (used with object), out·lipped, out·lip·ping.un·der·lip, noun

button

[buht-n]

noun

a small disk, knob, or the like for sewing or otherwise attaching to an article, as of clothing, serving as a fastening when passed through a buttonhole or loop.
anything resembling a button, especially in being small and round, as any of various candies, ornaments, tags, identification badges, reflectors, markers, etc.
a badge or emblem bearing a name, slogan, identifying figure, etc., for wear on the lapel, dress, etc.: campaign buttons.
any small knob or disk pressed to activate an electric circuit, release a spring, or otherwise operate or open a machine, small door, toy, etc.
Botany. a bud or other protuberant part of a plant.
Mycology.
  1. a young or undeveloped mushroom.
  2. any protuberant part of a fungus.
Zoology. any of various small parts or structures resembling a button, as the rattle at the tip of the tail in a very young rattlesnake.
Boxing Informal. the point of the chin.
Also called turn button. a fastener for a door, window, etc., having two arms and rotating on a pivot that is attached to the frame.
Metallurgy. (in assaying) a small globule or lump of metal at the bottom of a crucible after fusion.
Fencing. the protective, blunting knob fixed to the point of a foil.
Horology. crown(def 19).
Computers. (in a graphical user interface) a small, button-shaped or clearly defined area that the user can click on or touch to choose an option.

verb (used with object)

to fasten with a button or buttons: She quickly buttoned her coat.
to insert (a button) in a buttonhole or loop: He buttoned the top button of his shirt.
to provide (something) with a button or buttons.

verb (used without object)

to be capable of being buttoned: This coat buttons, but that one zips.

Origin of button

1275–1325; Middle English boto(u)n < Anglo-French: rosehip, button, stud; Middle French boton, equivalent to boter to butt3 + -on noun suffix
Related formsbut·ton·er, nounbut·ton·like, adjectivemis·but·ton, verb (used with object)mis·but·toned, adjectivere·but·ton, verb (used with object)well-but·toned, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for button up

shut, engage, join, seal, press, close, exceed, finish, complete, beat, cover, clinch, crown, surpass, eclipse, shutter, do, end, halt, conclude
British Dictionary definitions for button up

button up

verb (tr, adverb)

to fasten (a garment) with a button or buttons
informal to conclude (business) satisfactorily
buttoned up slang taciturn; silent and somewhat tense

button

noun

a disc or knob of plastic, wood, etc, attached to a garment, etc, usually for fastening two surfaces together by passing it through a buttonhole or loop
a small round object, such as any of various sweets, decorations, or badges
a small disc that completes an electric circuit when pushed, as one that operates a doorbell or machine
a symbolic representation of a button on the screen of a computer that is notionally depressed by manipulating the mouse to initiate an action
biology any rounded knoblike part or organ, such as an unripe mushroom
fencing the protective knob fixed to the point of a foil
a small amount of metal, usually lead, with which gold or silver is fused, thus concentrating it during assaying
the piece of a weld that pulls out during the destructive testing of spot welds
rowing a projection around the loom of an oar that prevents it slipping through the rowlock
British an object of no value (esp in the phrase not worth a button)
slang intellect; mental capacity (in such phrases as a button short, to have all one's buttons, etc)
on the button informal exactly; precisely

verb

to fasten with a button or buttons
(tr) to provide with buttons
(tr) fencing to hit (an opponent) with the button of one's foil
button one's lip, button up one's lip, button one's mouth or button up one's mouth to stop talking: often imperative
See also buttons, button up
Derived Formsbuttoner, nounbuttonless, adjectivebuttony, adjective

Word Origin for button

C14: from Old French boton, from boter to thrust, butt, of Germanic origin; see butt ³

lip

noun

anatomy
  1. either of the two fleshy folds surrounding the mouth, playing an important role in the production of speech sounds, retaining food in the mouth, etcRelated adjective: labial
  2. (as modifier)lip salve
the corresponding part in animals, esp mammals
any structure resembling a lip, such as the rim of a crater, the margin of a gastropod shell, etc
a nontechnical word for labium, labellum (def. 1)
slang impudent talk or backchat
the embouchure and control in the lips needed to blow wind and brass instruments
bite one's lip
  1. to stifle one's feelings
  2. to be annoyed or irritated
button one's lip or button up one's lip slang to stop talking: often imperative
keep a stiff upper lip to maintain one's courage or composure during a time of trouble without giving way to or revealing one's emotions
lick one's lips or smack one's lips to anticipate or recall something with glee or relish

verb lips, lipping or lipped

(tr) to touch with the lip or lips
(tr) to form or be a lip or lips for
(tr) rare to murmur or whisper
(intr) to use the lips in playing a wind instrument
See also lip out
Derived Formslipless, adjectiveliplike, adjective

Word Origin for lip

Old English lippa; related to Old High German leffur, Norwegian lepe, Latin labium
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
Word Origin and History for button up

button

n.

c.1300 (surname Botouner "button-maker" attested from mid-13c.), from Old French boton "a button," originally "a bud" (12c., Modern French bouton), from bouter, boter "to thrust," common Romanic (cf. Spanish boton, Italian bottone), ultimately from Germanic (see butt (v.)). Thus a button is, etymologically, something that pushes up, or thrusts out.

Meaning "point of the chin" is pugilistic slang, by 1921. A button as something you push to create an effect by closing an (electrical) circuit is attested from 1840s. Button-pusher as "deliberately annoying or provocative person" is attested by 1990 (in reference to Bill Gates, in "InfoWorld" magazine, Nov. 19). In the 1980s it meant "photographer."

lip

v.

c.1600, "to kiss," from lip (n.). Meaning "to pronounce with the lips only" is from 1789. Related: Lipped; lipping.

button

v.

late 14c., "to furnish with buttons;" early 15c., "to fasten with buttons" (of a garment,) from button (n.) or from Old French botoner (Modern French boutonner), from boton (n.). Related: Buttoned; buttoning. Button-down (adj.) in reference to shirt collars is from 1916.

lip

n.

Old English lippa, from Proto-Germanic *lepjon (cf. Old Frisian lippa, Middle Dutch lippe, Dutch lip, Old High German lefs, German Lefze, Swedish läpp, Danish læbe), from PIE *leb- "to lick; lip" (cf. Latin labium).

French lippe is from a Germanic source. Transferred sense of "edge or margin of a cup, etc." is from 1590s. Slang sense "saucy talk" is from 1821, probably from move the lip (1570s) "utter even the slightest word (against someone)." To bite (one's) lip "show vexation" is from early 14c. Stiff upper lip as a sign of courage is from 1833. Lip gloss is attested from 1939; lip balm from 1877. Related: Lips.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
button up in Medicine

lip

[lĭp]

n.

Either of two fleshy folds that surround the opening of the mouth.
A liplike structure bounding or encircling a bodily cavity or groove.

button

[bŭt′n]

n.

A knoblike structure, device, or lesion.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with button up

button up

1

Close securely, fasten, as in The house was all buttoned up, or Button up your coat—it's very cold. [Late 1500s]

2

Also, button one's lip. Hold one's tongue, keep quiet. For example, Please button your lip about the surprise. A variant of this usage, button one's mouth, dates from the 17th century. [Mid-1800s]

3

Finish successfully, as in I've got this report all buttoned up. [c. 1940]

button

In addition to the idioms beginning with button

  • button one's lip
  • button up

also see:

  • cute as a button
  • have all one's buttons
  • on the button
  • push (press) someone's buttons
  • push the panic button

lip

In addition to the idioms beginning with lip

  • lips are sealed, one's
  • lip service

also see:

  • button up (one's lip)
  • keep a stiff upper lip
  • lick one's chops (lips)
  • pass one's lips
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.