button

== English == === Pronunciation === (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈbʌt(ə)n/, [ˈbʌʔ.n̩], [ˈbʌʔ.tən], [ˈbʌʔ.tⁿn̩], [ˈbʌt.n̩] * (General South African) IPA(key): [ˈbətn̩] (Philippines) IPA(key): /ˈbʌtən/ (Singapore) IPA(key): /ˈbʌːʔtən/ (Indic) IPA(key): /bəˈʈən/ Rhymes: -ʌtən === Etymology 1 === From Middle English boton, botoun, from Old French boton (Modern French bouton), from Old French bouter, boter (“to push; thrust”), ultimately from a Germanic language. Doublet of bouton, Biden, and beat. More at butt. ==== Noun ==== button (plural buttons) (clothing) A knob or disc that is passed through a loop or (buttonhole), serving as a fastener. [from mid-13th c.] A mechanical device designed to be pressed with a finger in order to open or close an electric circuit or to activate a mechanism. (graphical user interface) An on-screen control that can be selected as an activator of an attached function. (US) A badge worn on clothes, fixed with a pin through the fabric. (botany) A bud. The calyx of an orange. The head of an unexpanded mushroom. (slang) The clitoris. (curling) The center (bullseye) of the house. (fencing) The soft circular tip at the end of a foil. (poker) A plastic disk used to represent the person in last position in a poker game; also dealer's button. (poker) The player who is last to act after the flop, turn and river, who possesses the button. (archaic) A person who acts as a decoy. A raised pavement marker to further indicate the presence of a pavement-marking painted stripe. (aviation) The end of a runway. (South Africa, slang) A methaqualone tablet (used as a recreational drug). A piece of wood or metal, usually flat and elongated, turning on a nail or screw, to fasten something, such as a door. A globule of metal remaining on an assay cupel or in a crucible, after fusion. A knob; a small ball; a small, roundish mass. A small white blotch on a cat's coat. (UK, archaic) A unit of length equal to 1⁄12 inch. (generally with the) The means for initiating a nuclear strike or similar cataclysmic occurrence. (glassblowing) The oblate spheroidal mass of glass attaching a stem to either its bowl or foot. (lutherie) In an instrument of the violin family, the near-semicircular shape extending from the top of the back plate of the instrument, meeting the heel of the neck. (lutherie) Synonym of endbutton, part of a violin-family instrument. (lutherie, bowmaking) Synonym of adjuster. The least amount of care or interest; a whit or jot. (television) The punchy or suspenseful line of dialogue that concludes a scene. Synonym: blow (comedy) The final joke at the end of a comedic act (such as a sketch, set, or scene). (slang) A button man; a professional assassin. 1973, Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola, The Godfather Part II (screenplay, second draft) FREDO: Mikey, why would they ever hit poor old Frankie Five-Angels? I loved that ole sonuvabitch. I remember when he was just a 'button,' when we were kids. The final segment of a rattlesnake's rattle. (dated, Southern US) A clove (of garlic). (zoology) Pedicle; the attachment point for antlers in cervids. ===== Usage notes ===== For senses 2 and 3, a button is often marked by a verb rather than a noun, and the button itself is named with the verb followed by button. For example, a button to start something is generally called a start button. ===== Hypernyms ===== (graphical user interface): widget ===== Hyponyms ===== ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Descendants ===== → German: Button → Hindi: बटन (baṭan) → Gujarati: બટન (baṭan) → Korean: 버튼 (beoteun) → Māori: pātene → Marathi: बटण (baṭaṇ) → Urdu: بَٹَن (baṭan) ===== Translations ===== ===== See also ===== switch toggle trigger === Etymology 2 === From Middle English butonen, botonen, from the noun (see above). ==== Verb ==== button (third-person singular simple present buttons, present participle buttoning, simple past and past participle buttoned) (transitive) To fasten with a button. [from late 14th c.] (intransitive) To be fastened by a button or buttons. (Can we clean up(+) this sense?) (informal) To stop talking. ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== === Further reading === button on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === Anagrams === not but == Middle English == === Noun === button alternative form of botoun