buttonhole

== English == === Alternative forms === button-hole, button hole === Etymology === Originally buttonhold (“a loop of string to hold a button down”), but changed by folk etymology by influence of hole, By surface analysis, button +‎ hole. === Pronunciation === (General American) IPA(key): /ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl/ === Noun === buttonhole (plural buttonholes) A hole through which a button is pushed to secure a garment or some part of one. Coordinate terms: eyelet, grommet (chiefly British) A flower worn in a buttonhole for decoration. Synonym: boutonniere (attributive) So shaped that it can be worn on a buttonhole or it is similar to a buttonhole. (surgery) A small slot-like cut or incision, made for example by an accident with the scalpel. Coordinate term: keyhole The mouth, nose or eyes of a tiny appearance. (obsolete) vagina, coin slot. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:vagina (lightly vulgar) The butthole (anus). Synonyms: see Thesaurus:anus ==== Related terms ==== buttonhook ==== Translations ==== === Verb === buttonhole (third-person singular simple present buttonholes, present participle buttonholing, simple past and past participle buttonholed) (transitive, colloquial) To detain (a person) in conversation against their will. Synonyms: accost, waylay Coordinate term: grab by the lapels (ambitransitive) To cut one or more buttonholes (in). (transitive) To sew by buttonhole stitch. (transitive, surgery, chiefly archaic) To make a small slot-like incision in (intentionally or unintentionally). (transitive, rare) To apply a flowery formation in. (intransitive, archaic, rare) To attain buttonhole-like formations on cutting. ==== Derived terms ==== buttonholer ==== Translations ====