Collins English-English Dictionary

button ['b^t^ən]

1. 1. n 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. 2. n a small round object, such as any of various sweets, decorations, or badges

3. 3. n a small disc that completes an electric circuit when pushed, as one that operates a doorbell or machine

4. 4. n 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. 5. n [biology] any rounded knoblike part or organ, such as an unripe mushroom

6. 6. n [fencing] the protective knob fixed to the point of a foil

7. 7. n a small amount of metal, usually lead, with which gold or silver is fused, thus concentrating it during assaying

8. 8. n the piece of a weld that pulls out during the destructive testing of spot welds

9. 9. n [rowing] a projection around the loom of an oar that prevents it slipping through the rowlock

10. 10. n [Brit] an object of no value (esp in the phrase not worth a button)

11. 11. n [slang] intellect; mental capacity (in such phrases as a button short, to have all one's buttons, etc)

12. 12. vb to fasten with a button or buttons

13. 13. vt. [tr] to provide with buttons

14. 14. vt. [tr] [fencing] to hit (an opponent) with the button of one's foil

15. 15. vt. See also buttons button up

16. 16. vt. [Etymology] C14: from Old French boton, from boter to thrust, butt, of Germanic origin; see butt³