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| but·ton [ bútt'n ] |
noun (plural but·tons) |
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| Definition: |
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1. disk for holding clothes together: a flat and usually round piece of plastic or other material on a piece of clothing that fits into a slit or loop on another part and holds the two parts together
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2. electrical switch: a small disk fitted in an electrical appliance or attached to a surface that activates an electrical connection when pressed
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3. small round object: a small round object that resembles a button
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4. North America small badge worn on clothes: a small round flat metal or plastic badge with an image or words printed on it, worn attached to clothes
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5. biology rounded part: a rounded knob-shaped part or organ, e.g. the head of an unripe mushroom
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6. comput small activating icon on computer screen: a small oblong image in a dialog box of a computer-screen display, activated to perform a task by clicking with the mouse or pressing the "Enter" key
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7. comput activating part of computer mouse: the part of a computer mouse that, when pressed, performs a function such as inserting the cursor at a specific point
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8. fencing protective covering on foil: a small rounded plastic or rubber covering placed on the tip of a fencing foil to protect participants from injury
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9. reptiles end of rattlesnake's tail: the terminal section of a rattlesnake's tail
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verb (past and past participle but·toned, present participle but·ton·ing, 3rd person present singular but·tons) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb fasten with buttons: to fasten something with a button or buttons
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2. intransitive verb have buttons somewhere: to have buttons that can be fastened on a particular side of a garment opening or in a particular place on the garment
  The dress buttons at the back.
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3. transitive verb put button in hole: to put a button through a slit or loop designed to receive it
I never button the top button of my shirt.
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4. transitive verb shut mouth: to close the mouth or lips and be quiet
(
informal
)
Just button it!
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| [14th century. < French bouton "bud, knob" < Germanic] |
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| but·ton·er noun |
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on the button exactly right (informal)
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push or press all the right buttons to do all the right or appropriate things
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push somebody's buttons to provoke a reaction in somebody deliberately
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