Sekirov Dictionary

buttonhole

/ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl/

noun 7
verb 6
forms 3

noun7

A hole through which a button is pushed to secure a garment or some part of one.
(UK) A flower worn in a buttonhole for decoration.
[before a noun] (UK) So shaped that it can be worn on a buttonhole or it is similar to a buttonhole.
•
A small slotlike cut or incision, made for example by an accident with the scalpel.
- The usual cause of conjunctival buttonholes is penetration of the tissue by the tip of a sharp instrument […] — 2011
(slang) The butthole (anus).
The mouth, nose or eyes of a tiny appearance.
(slang, no longer used) The vagina, a coin slot.

verb6

•
(informal) To detain (a person) in conversation against their will.
- Hiro and Chuck grab the closest thing they can find to a corner table. Hiro buttonholes a waiter and surreptitiously orders a pitcher of Pub Special, mixed half and half with nonalcoholic beer. — 1992
To cut one or more buttonholes (in).
To sew by buttonhole stitch.
(rare) To apply a flowery formation in.
(no longer used) To make a small slot-like incision in (intentionally or unintentionally).
(no longer used, rare) To attain buttonhole-like formations on cutting.

forms

buttonholed · buttonholing · buttonholes

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