Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

buttonhole

[ buht-n-hohl ]

noun

  1. the hole, slit, or loop through which a button is passed and by which it is secured.
  2. Chiefly British. a boutonniere.
  3. Surgery. a short, straight incision through the wall of a cavity or a canal.


verb (used with object)

buttonholed, buttonholing.
  1. to sew with a buttonhole stitch.
  2. to make buttonholes in.
  3. to hold by the buttonhole or otherwise abruptly detain (someone) in conversation:

    The reporter tried to buttonhole the mayor for a statement on the bus strike.

buttonhole

/ ˈʌəˌəʊ /

noun

  1. a slit in a garment, etc, through which a button is passed to fasten two surfaces together
  2. a flower or small bunch of flowers worn pinned to the lapel or in the buttonhole, esp at weddings, formal dances, etc US nameboutonniere
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to detain (a person) in conversation
  2. to make buttonholes in
  3. to sew with buttonhole stitch
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • ܳtDz·DZe noun
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of buttonhole1

First recorded in 1555–65; button + hole
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The golf stories are narrated by the “oldest member” of an upper-class golf club who buttonholes unwary younger members to regale them with his memories of golfers he has known.

From

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust told the BBC that while UK vascular access guidelines do not recommend buttonholing, they "do not specifically state that it is contraindicated".

From

He calls himself a “conservative moderate” and argues he should not be buttonholed into conventional labels, such as Trump’s Make America Great Again political movement.

From

They relied on Griffin, who utilized her thick Rolodexes and neighborhood connections to buttonhole politicians, community members and others to fight.

From

He has said he should not be buttonholed into conventional labels, such as former President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again political movement.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


buttoned-upbuttonhole someone