button

[ buht-n ]

/ ˈbʌt n /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR button ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

a young or undeveloped mushroom.
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.

Nearby words

Idioms

button up, Informal.

Also button one's lip. to become or keep silent.
to fasten securely; close up: Within a short time, everything on the submarine was buttoned up.
to fasten fully or put on, especially an outer garment: Button up before going out.
to complete successfully; finish: The report is all buttoned up.

have all one's buttons, Informal. to be mentally competent, alert, and sane; have all one's wits: At 106 she still has all her buttons.

on the button, Informal. exactly as desired, expected, specified, etc.: The prediction for snow was right on the button.

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 forms

but·ton·er, nounbut·ton·like, adjectivemis·but·ton, verb (used with object)mis·but·toned, adjective

re·but·ton, verb (used with object)well-but·toned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for on the button

button

/ (ˈbʌtən) /

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

Word Origin for button

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

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 on the button (1 of 2)

button

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."

Word Origin and History for on the button (1 of 2)

button

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.

Medicine definitions for on the button

button

[ bŭt′n ]

n.

A knoblike structure, device, or lesion.

Idioms and Phrases with on the button (1 of 2)

on the button

Exactly right, precisely, as in Her review of the book was right on the button, or We're supposed to be there at six o'clock on the button. This term may come from boxing, where a punch on the button means “a punch on the chin.” [Colloquial; c. 1900] Also see on the dot.

Idioms and Phrases with on the button (2 of 2)

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

button

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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Idioms

Origin of button

British Dictionary definitions for on the button

button

noun

verb

Word Origin for button

Word Origin and History for on the button (1 of 2)

button

Word Origin and History for on the button (1 of 2)

button

Medicine definitions for on the button

button

n.

Idioms and Phrases with on the button (1 of 2)

on the button

Idioms and Phrases with on the button (2 of 2)

button