English Dictionary

Definition of “button”

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button (ˈbʌtənnPronunciation for button) 

Definitions

noun

  1. 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
  2. a small round object, such as any of various sweets, decorations, or badges
  3. a small disc that completes an electric circuit when pushed, as one that operates a doorbell or machine
  4. a symbolic representation of a button on the screen of a computer that is notionally depressed by manipulating the mouse to initiate an action
  5. biology any rounded knoblike part or organ, such as an unripe mushroom
  6. fencing the protective knob fixed to the point of a foil
  7. a small amount of metal, usually lead, with which gold or silver is fused, thus concentrating it during assaying
  8. the piece of a weld that pulls out during the destructive testing of spot welds
  9. rowing a projection around the loom of an oar that prevents it slipping through the rowlock
  10. British an object of no value (esp in the phrase not worth a button)
  11. slang intellect; mental capacity (in such phrases as a button short, to have all one's buttons, etc)
  12. See on the button

verb

  1. to fasten with a button or buttons
  2. (tr) to provide with buttons
  3. (tr) fencing to hit (an opponent) with the button of one's foil
  4. See button one's lip

See also

buttons , button up

Alternative Forms

ˈbuttoner noun ˈbuttonless adjective ˈbuttony adjective

Word Origin

C14: from Old French boton , from boter to thrust, butt, of Germanic origin; see butt³

Translations

  • British English: button Pronunciation for button Buttons are small hard objects sewn on to pieces of clothing, which you use to fasten the clothing....a coat with blue buttons.ˈbʌtn NOUN ...a coat with blue buttons.
  • Spanish: botón Pronunciation for botón nm
  • French: bouton Pronunciation for bouton nm
  • German: Knopf Pronunciation for Knopf nm Knöpfe
  • Chinese: 纽扣Pronunciation for 纽扣 n
  • Arabic: زِرّPronunciation for زِرّ n
  • Portuguese: botãoPronunciation for botão nm
  • Russian: пуговицаPronunciation for пуговица nf
  • Croatian: dugmePronunciation for dugme nnt
  • Czech: knoflíkPronunciation for knoflík nm
  • Danish: knapPronunciation for knap nutr
  • Dutch: knoopPronunciation for knoop nm
  • Finnish: nappiPronunciation for nappi n
  • Greek: κουμπίPronunciation for κουμπί nnt
  • Italian: bottonePronunciation for bottone nm
  • Japanese: ボタンPronunciation for ボタン n
  • Korean: 단추Pronunciation for 단추 n
  • Norwegian: knappPronunciation for knapp nm
  • Polish: przyciskPronunciation for przycisk nm
  • Brazilian Portuguese: botãoPronunciation for botão nm
  • European Spanish: botón Pronunciation for botón nm
  • Swedish: knappPronunciation for knapp nutr
  • Thai: กระดุมPronunciation for กระดุม n
  • Turkish: düğmePronunciation for düğme n
  • Vietnamese: cái khuyPronunciation for cái khuy n

Usage examples

  • The last time they asked if she'd push her call button when she returned.
    Anita Anderson, SOMEBODY (2002)
  • For example, if you're shooting a picture of Mom, pushing a button while in portrait mode will add a circle to the screen.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • Love DADDY TO FRANK McDOUGALL, My baby, I'll love you always even with the belly button fluff!
    Sun, News of the World (2000)
  • More than anything it's like a modern radio that has a scanner button.
    O'Keeffe, John, Your One Week Way to Mind-Fitness (1994)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'B'

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