buttonhole

[buht-n-hohl] /ˈbʌt nˌhoʊl/
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.
4.
to sew with a buttonhole stitch.
5.
to make buttonholes in.
6.
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.
Origin
1555-65; button + hole
Related forms
buttonholer, noun
Examples from the web for buttonhole
  • There's no reason they won't have a video camera located in a buttonhole, maybe even a video projector.
  • Measure collar from center of collar button to far end of collar buttonhole.
  • He missed his first buttonhole, so all the rest of them were off.
  • The tab and snap are used to secure the liner sleeves--use of a button and buttonhole or loop is unacceptable.
British Dictionary definitions for buttonhole

buttonhole

/ˈbʌtənˌhəʊl/
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 name boutonniere
verb (transitive)
3.
to detain (a person) in conversation
4.
to make buttonholes in
5.
to sew with buttonhole stitch
buttonhole in Medicine

buttonhole but·ton·hole (bŭt'n-hōl')
n.

  1. A short straight surgical cut made through the wall of a cavity or canal.

  2. The contraction of an orifice down to a narrow slit, as in mitral stenosis.

Slang definitions & phrases for buttonhole

buttonhole

verb

To get someone's attention as if by taking hold by a buttonhole: listening to and buttonholing other researchers

[1880+; Button in the same sense is attested from the early 1860s]