button

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: but=ton

CIDE DICTIONARY

button, n. [OE. boton, botoun, F. bouton button, bud, prop. something pushing out, fr. bouter to push. See Butt an end.].

•  A knob; a small ball; a small, roundish mass.  [1913 Webster]
•  A catch, of various forms and materials, used to fasten together the different parts of dress, by being attached to one part, and passing through a slit, called a buttonhole, in the other; -- used also for ornament.  [1913 Webster]
•  A bud; a germ of a plant.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  A piece of wood or metal, usually flat and elongated, turning on a nail or screw, to fasten something, as a door.  [1913 Webster]
•  A globule of metal remaining on an assay cupel or in a crucible, after fusion.  [1913 Webster]

Button hook, a hook for catching a button and drawing it through a buttonhole, as in buttoning boots and gloves. -- Button shell (Zoöl.), a small, univalve marine shell of the genus Rotella. -- Button snakeroot. (Bot.) (a) The American composite genus Liatris, having rounded buttonlike heads of flowers. (b) An American umbelliferous plant with rigid, narrow leaves, and flowers in dense heads. -- Button tree (Bot.), a genus of trees (Conocarpus), furnishing durable timber, mostly natives of the West Indies. -- To hold by the button, to detain in conversation to weariness; to bore; to buttonhole.

button, v. t. [OE. botonen, OF. botoner, F. boutonner. See Button, n.].

•  To fasten with a button or buttons; to inclose or make secure with buttons; -- often followed by up.  [1913 Webster]

  "He was a tall, fat, long-bodied man, buttoned up to the throat in a tight green coat."  [1913 Webster]
•  To dress or clothe.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

button, v. i. 

 To be fastened by a button or buttons; as, the coat will not button.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

button, n. & v.
--n.
1 a small disc or knob sewn on to a garment, either to fasten it by being pushed through a buttonhole, or as an ornament or badge.
2 a knob on a piece of esp. electronic equipment which is pressed to operate it.
3 a a small round object (chocolate buttons). b (attrib.) anything resembling a button (button nose).
4 a a bud. b a button mushroom.
5 Fencing a terminal knob on a foil making it harmless.
--v.
1 tr. & intr. = button up 1.
2 tr. supply with buttons.

Idiom

buttonball tree (or button wood) US a plane-tree, Platanus occidentalis. button chrysanthemum a variety of chrysanthemum with small spherical flowers. buttoned up colloq.
1 formal and inhibited in manner.
2 silent. button one's lip esp. US sl. remain silent. button mushroom a young unopened mushroom. button-through (of a dress) fastened with buttons from neck to hem like a coat.
button up
1 fasten with buttons.
2 colloq. complete (a task etc.) satisfactorily.
3 colloq. become silent. not worth a button worthless. on the button esp. US sl. precisely.

Derivative

buttoned adj. buttonless adj. buttony adj.

Etymology

ME f. OF bouton, ult. f. Gmc

THESAURUS

button

a continental, a curse, a damn, a darn, a hoot, anchor, armory, articulate, badge, badge of office, badges, bagatelle, band, bandage, bang, bantam, banty, bar, barrette, barricade, baton, batten, batten down, bauble, bean, bellyband, belt, bibelot, bilge, bind, binding, binding stone, binding twine, bit, blain, blazonry, bleb, blister, blob, bobby pin, bollard, bolt, bonder, bondstone, boss, bow, box hook, brace, braces, brad, braid, brass farthing, brassard, bubble, buckle, bulb, bulge, bulla, bullion, bump, bunch, burl, butt, button up, cable, cahot, cap and gown, carpet tack, cast, casting, catch, cent, chain, chain of office, chin, chine, chit, choke, choke off, cinch, cincture, clamp, clap, clasp, class ring, cleat, click, clinch, clip, close, close up, clothespin, clump, cockade, collar, condyle, constrict, contain, contract, convex, corking pin, cotter, cover, cross, curio, decoration, diminutive, dovetail, dowel, dress, eagle, ear, emblems, ensigns, farce, farthing, fasces, fasten, feather, featherweight, fibula, fig, figurehead, fillet, fingerling, fishhook, flange, flap, fleabite, fleur-de-lis, fold, fold up, folderol, fribble, frippery, funiculus, gall, garter, gate, gaud, gewgaw, gimcrack, girdle, girth, gnarl, grab, grapnel, grappler, grappling iron, guy, hair, hairpin, halfpenny, hammer and sickle, handle, hank, hasp, hawser, haywire, heraldry, hill, hill of beans, hinge, hitch, hitching post, holdfast, hook, hook and eye, hump, hunch, ingot, inkle, insignia, interlocker, jam, jest, jog, joggle, joint, joke, kevel, key, kickshaw, kingpin, knickknack, knickknackery, knob, knot, knur, knurl, lace, lacing, lapel pin, lariat, latch, latchet, leader, ligament, lightweight, line, lip, livery, lock, lock out, lock up, loop, lump, mace, mantle, markings, medal, mentum, mini, minikin, minnow, minny, miter, mockery, mole, molehill, moorings, mortarboard, mortise, mountain, mouse, nail, nevus, noose, nub, nubbin, nubble, nut, occlude, old school tie, padlock, paper clip, papilloma, pawl, peewee, peg, peppercorn, picayune, pig, pin, pinch of snuff, pinprick, pintle, plumb, pony, rabbet, rap, red cent, regalia, regulus, rib, ridge, ring, rivet, roller, rope, rose, row of pins, runt, rush, safety pin, scarf, school ring, screw, seal, seal off, seal up, secure, sennit, setscrew, sew, shamrock, sheet metal, shit, shoulder, shrimp, shut, shut the door, shut up, sigillography, skewer, skull and crossbones, slam, slide fastener, slip, small fry, snap, sneeshing, snip, snippet, snubbing post, sou, sow, sphragistics, spike, spine, splice, squeeze shut, staff, staple, stick, stitch, strangle, strap, straw, string, strop, stub tenon, stud, style, suspenders, swastika, tab, tack, tag, tartan, tendon, terret, thistle, thole, tholepin, thong, thumbtack, tie, tie beam, tit, toggle, toy, treenail, trifle, trinket, triviality, tubercle, tubercule, tug, tuppence, twine, two cents, twopence, uniform, verge, verruca, vesicle, vise, wale, wand, wart, wedge, welt, whang, whim-wham, wire, wisp, zip up, zipper

ROGET THESAURUS

button

Unimportance

N unimportance, insignificance, nothingness, immateriality, triviality, levity, frivolity, paltriness, poverty, smallness, vanity, matter of indifference, no object, nothing, nothing to signify, nothing worth speaking of, nothing particular, nothing to boast of, nothing to speak of, small matter, no great matter, trifling matter, mere joke, mere nothing, hardly anything, scarcely anything, nonentity, small beer, cipher, no great shakes, peu de chose, child's play, kinderspiel, toy, plaything, popgun, paper pellet, gimcrack, gewgaw, bauble, trinket, bagatelle, Rickshaw, knickknack, whim-wham, trifle, trifles light as air, yankee notions, trumpery, trash, rubbish, stuff, fatras, frippery, leather or prunello, chaff, drug, froth bubble smoke, cobweb, weed, refuse, scum, joke, jest, snap of the fingers, fudge, fiddlestick, fiddlestick end, pack of nonsense, mere farce, straw, pin, fig, button, rush, bulrush, feather, halfpenny, farthing, brass farthing, doit, peppercorn, jot, rap, pinch of snuff, old son, cent, mill, picayune, pistareen, red cent, minutiae, details, minor details, small fry, dust in the balance, feather in the scale, drop in the ocean, flea-bite, molehill, nine days' wonder, ridiculus mus, flash in the pan, much ado about nothing, unimportant, of little account, of small account, of no account, of little importance, of no importance, immaterial, unessential, nonessential, indifferent, subordinate, mediocre, passable, fair, respectable, tolerable, commonplace, uneventful, mere, common, ordinary, inconsiderable, so-so, insignificant, inappreciable, trifling, trivial, slight, slender, light, flimsy, frothy, idle, puerile, airy, shallow, weak, powerless, frivolous, petty, niggling, piddling, peddling, fribble, inane, ridiculous, farcical, finical, finikin, fiddle-faddle, fingle-fangle, namby-pamby, wishy-washy, milk and water, poor, paltry, pitiful, contemptible, sorry, mean, meager, shabby, miserable, wretched, vile, scrubby, scrannel, weedy, niggardly, scurvy, putid, beggarly, worthless, twopennyhalfpenny, cheap, trashy, catchpenny, gimcrack, trumpery, one- horse, not worth the pains, not worth while, not worth mentioning, not worth speaking of, not worth a thought, not worth a curse, not worth a straw, beneath notice, unworthy of notice, beneath regard, unworthy of regard, beneath consideration, unworthy of consideration, de lana caprina, vain, slightly, rather, somewhat, pretty well, tolerably, for aught one cares, Int, no matter!, pish!, tush!, tut!, pshaw!, pugh!, pooh, pooh-pooh!, fudge!, bosh!, humbug!, fiddlestick, fiddlestick end!, fiddlededee!, never mind!, n'importe!, what signifies it, what boots it, what of it, what of that, what matter, what's the odds, a fig for', stuff!, nonsense!, stuff and nonsense, magno conatu magnas nugas, le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle, it matters not, it does not signify, it is of no consequence, it is of no importance, elephantus non capit murem, tempete dans un verre d'eau.

Junction

VB join, unite, conjoin, connect, associate, put together, lay together, clap together, hang together, lump together, hold together, piece together, tack together, fix together, bind up together together, embody, reembody, roll into one, attach, fix, affix, saddle on, fasten, bind, secure, clinch, twist, make fast, tie, pinion, string, strap, sew, lace, tat, stitch, tack, knit, button, buckle, hitch, lash, truss, bandage, braid, splice, swathe, gird, tether, moor, picket, harness, chain, fetter, lock, latch, belay, brace, hook, grapple, leash, couple, accouple, link, yoke, bracket, marry, bridge over, span, braze, pin, nail, bolt, hasp, clasp, clamp, crimp, screw, rivet, impact, solder, set, weld together, fuse together, wedge, rabbet, mortise, miter, jam, dovetail, enchase, graft, ingraft, inosculate, entwine, intwine, interlink, interlace, intertwine, intertwist, interweave, entangle, twine round, belay, tighten, trice up, screw up, be joined, hang together, hold together, cohere.

Connection

N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.

Littleness

N littleness, smallness, exiguity, inextension, parvitude, parvity, duodecimo, Elzevir edition, epitome, microcosm, rudiment, vanishing point, thinness, dwarf, pygmy, pigmy, Liliputian, chit, pigwidgeon, urchin, elf, atomy, dandiprat, doll, puppet, Tom Thumb, Hop-o'-my-thumb, manikin, mannikin, homunculus, dapperling, cock-sparrow, animalcule, monad, mite, insect, emmet, fly, midge, gnat, shrimp, minnow, worm, maggot, entozoon, bacteria, infusoria, microzoa, phytozoaria, microbe, grub, tit, tomtit, runt, mouse, small fry, millet seed, mustard seed, barleycorn, pebble, grain of sand, molehill, button, bubble, point, atom, fragment, powder, point of a pin, mathematical point, minutiae, micrometer, vernier, scale, microphotography, photomicrography, micrography, photomicrograph, microphotograph, microscopy, microscope (optical instruments), little, small, minute, diminutive, microscopic, microzoal, inconsiderable, exiguous, puny, tiny, wee, petty, minikin, miniature, pygmy, pigmy, elfin, undersized, dwarf, dwarfed, dwarfish, spare, stunted, limited, cramp, cramped, pollard, Liliputian, dapper, pocket, portative, portable, duodecimo, dumpy, squat, short, impalpable, intangible, evanescent, imperceptible, invisible, inappreciable, insignificant, inconsiderable, trivial, infinitesimal, homoeopathic, atomic, subatomic, corpuscular, molecular, rudimentary, rudimental, embryonic, vestigial, weazen, scant, scraggy, scrubby, thin, granular, shrunk, brevipennate, in a small compass, in a nutshell, on a small scale, minutely, microscopically.

Pendency

N pendency, dependency, suspension, hanging, pedicel, pedicle, peduncle, tail, train, flap, skirt, pigtail, pony tail, pendulum, hangnail peg, knob, button, hook, nail, stud, ring, staple, tenterhook, fastening, spar, horse, pendent, pendulous, pensile, hanging, beetling, jutting over, overhanging, projecting, dependent, suspended, loose, flowing, having a peduncle, pedunculate, tailed, caudate.

Convexity

N convexity, prominence, projection, swelling, gibbosity, bilge, bulge, protuberance, protrusion, camber, cahot, thank-ye-ma'am, swell, intumescence, tumour, tumor, tubercle, tuberosity, excrescence, hump, hunch, bunch, boss, embossment, hub, hubble, tooth, knob, elbow, process, apophysis, condyle, bulb, node, nodule, nodosity, tongue, dorsum, bump, clump, sugar loaf, bow, mamelon, molar, belly, corporation, pot belly, gut, withers, back, shoulder, lip, flange, pimple, zit, wen, wheel, papula, pustule, pock, proud flesh, growth, sarcoma, caruncle, corn, wart, pappiloma, furuncle, polypus, fungus, fungosity, exostosis, bleb, blister, blain, boil, airbubble, blob, papule, verruca, papilla, nipple, teat, tit, titty, boob, knocker, pap, breast, dug, mammilla, proboscis, nose, neb, beak, snout, nozzle, schnoz, peg, button, stud, ridge, rib, jutty, trunnion, snag, cupola, dome, arch, balcony, eaves, pilaster, relief, relievo, cameo, bassorilievo, mezzorilevo, altorivievo, low relief, bas relief, high relief, hill, cape, promontory, mull, forehead, foreland, point of land, mole, jetty, hummock, ledge, spur, naze, ness, convex, prominent, protuberant, projecting, bossed, embossed, bossy, nodular, bunchy, clavate, clavated, claviform, hummocky, moutonne, mammiliform, papulous, papilose, hemispheric, bulbous, bowed, arched, bold, bellied, tuberous, tuberculous, tumous, cornute, odontoid, lentiform, lenticular, gibbous, club shaped, hubby, hubbly, knobby, papillose, saddle-shaped, selliform, subclavate, torose, ventricose, verrucose, salient, in relief, raised, repousse, bloated, (expanded).