BUTTONHOLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does buttonhole mean? 

• BUTTONHOLE (noun)
  The noun BUTTONHOLE has 1 sense:

1. a hole through which buttons are pushed

  Familiarity information: BUTTONHOLE used as a noun is very rare.

• BUTTONHOLE (verb)
  The verb BUTTONHOLE has 1 sense:

1. detain in conversation by or as if by holding on to the outer garments of; as for political or economic favors

  Familiarity information: BUTTONHOLE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BUTTONHOLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A hole through which buttons are pushed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

button hole; buttonhole

Hypernyms ("buttonhole" is a kind of...):

hole (an opening deliberately made in or through something)

Holonyms ("buttonhole" is a part of...):

garment (an article of clothing)

• BUTTONHOLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they buttonhole    ... he / she / it buttonholes   
Past simple: buttonholed   
Past participle: buttonholed   
-ing form: buttonholing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Detain in conversation by or as if by holding on to the outer garments of; as for political or economic favors

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

buttonhole; lobby

Hypernyms (to "buttonhole" is one way to...):

beg; solicit; tap (make a solicitation or entreaty for something; request urgently or persistently)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

 Context examples 

She does her own hair, and I am teaching her to make buttonholes and mend her stockings.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“Those rascals over yonder manage things better,” said an old one-eyed captain, with the blue-and-white riband for St. Vincent peeping out of his third buttonhole.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

As a preliminary to another journey to his bunk, he hooked Wolf Larsen’s buttonhole with a greasy forefinger and vacuously proclaimed and reiterated, I got money, I got money, I tell yer, an’ I’m a gentleman’s son.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"I'll do my best to gratify you, Sir," was Laurie's unusually dutiful reply, as he carefully unpinned the posy Jo had put in his buttonhole.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The famous Master of the Ring was clad in honour of the occasion in a most resplendent scarlet coat worked in gold at the buttonholes, a white stock, a looped hat with a broad black band, buff knee-breeches, white silk stockings, and paste buckles—a costume which did justice to his magnificent figure, and especially to those famous balustrade calves which had helped him to be the finest runner and jumper as well as the most formidable pugilist in England.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I was thanking my stars that I'd learned to make nice buttonholes, when the parlor door opened and shut, and someone began to hum, Kennst Du Das Land, like a big bumblebee.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"So the poor knight is to be left sticking in the hedge, is he?" asked Mr. Brooke, still watching the river, and playing with the wild rose in his buttonhole.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She put them in his buttonhole as a peace offering, and he stood a minute looking down at them with a curious expression, for in the Italian part of his nature there was a touch of superstition, and he was just then in that state of half-sweet, half-bitter melancholy, when imaginative young men find significance in trifles and food for romance everywhere.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I am a stupid thing, and ought to be studying, not playing, was Beth's resolution, while Amy followed their example by heroically declaring, I shall learn to make buttonholes, and attend to my parts of speech.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He looked like an Italian, was dressed like an Englishman, and had the independent air of an American—a combination which caused sundry pairs of feminine eyes to look approvingly after him, and sundry dandies in black velvet suits, with rose-colored neckties, buff gloves, and orange flowers in their buttonholes, to shrug their shoulders, and then envy him his inches.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)