button
/ˈbʌtn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbʌtn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbə-tᵊn/ (ame, mw) · /ˈbʌt.ən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbʌt.ən/ (ame, ipa)
button — noun
1. a small round disc, often made from plastic, metal, or wood, attached by thread
a small round disc, often made from plastic, metal, or wood, attached by thread to shirts, coats, and similar garments, and pushed through a small slit so the two sides hold together.
Marcus lost the top button of his white school shirt during recess.
noun phrase: top button of [garment]
Lina sewed a spare wooden button onto her grandmother's old wool coat.
verb + button collocation: sew on a button
The tiny pearl buttons on the bride's dress took two hours to fasten.
Carlos tugged his jacket so hard that a button popped off and rolled away.
Please check that every button is fastened before the photo.
文法句型
button on/of [garment]
用法筆記
Frequently appears with verbs of fastening or breaking: sew on, do up, undo, pop off. Distinguish from sense 2 (a control on a device) — clothing buttons pass through a buttonhole, while machine buttons are pressed.
常見錯誤
2. a small part on a machine, remote control, or screen that you press or click in
a small part on a machine, remote control, or screen that you press or click in order to make the device do something — for example, turning on a microwave, raising the volume, or sending an email.
Maya pressed the green button on the microwave and waited for her soup.
press + the [color] button on [device]
Dad fumbled with the remote, hitting every button until the TV finally switched on.
hit every button (informal collocation)
Click the blue Send button at the bottom of the form to submit your application.
There is a small red button under the desk that calls security in an emergency.
The lift had no buttons inside, only a touchscreen for choosing your floor.
文法句型
press/push the button
click the [name] button
用法筆記
Use 'press' or 'push' for physical buttons; use 'click' or 'tap' for buttons on a screen. Often modified by colour or function name (the red button, the Save button). Distinguish from sense 1 — these buttons are pressed, never sewn.
常見錯誤
3. a small flat round badge, usually metal or plastic, printed with a slogan, logo,
a small flat round badge, usually metal or plastic, printed with a slogan, logo, or picture, that people pin to a jacket or bag to show which group, cause, or idea they support.
Sarah wore a yellow campaign button on her backpack to support the mayor.
wear + a [topic] button on [item]
The volunteers handed out small buttons saying 'Vote 2024' outside the polling station.
buttons saying [slogan]
Grandpa still keeps his old protest buttons from the 1960s in a wooden box.
The fan club gave Lina a button with the band's logo when she joined.
文法句型
wear a button
a button saying/reading [text]
用法筆記
Mainly American English; British speakers usually say 'badge'. Subject is typically a person showing support for a cause, team, or campaign. Often modified by the topic: campaign button, protest button, fan button.
4. a soft cap, usually rubber or plastic, fitted to the point of a fencing sword so
a soft cap, usually rubber or plastic, fitted to the point of a fencing sword so that the blade cannot pierce an opponent during practice or a match.
Coach Tanaka checked that the button on each foil was firmly attached before the match.
the button on [a foil]
Lina lost a point when the button fell off her foil mid-bout.
Beginners must never train without a button on the tip of the blade.
The referee paused the duel because Carlos's button had cracked in two.
- tip
the broader term for the end of any sword; less specific
文法句型
the button of [a foil]
用法筆記
Strictly a fencing term — only used for the protective tip of a foil, épée, or sabre. Subject of a sentence is usually the equipment or a coach checking it.
button — verb
1. to close a shirt, coat, or other piece of clothing by pushing each button throug
to close a shirt, coat, or other piece of clothing by pushing each button through its matching slit, or to be designed so it closes in this way.
Maya buttoned her son's coat carefully before sending him out into the snow.
button + [object/garment]
Marcus quickly buttoned up his shirt when the doorbell rang.
button up (phrasal pattern)
This blouse buttons at the back, so Lina needed help getting dressed.
Grandma's fingers shook as she tried to button her thin cardigan.
Please button your jacket — it is freezing outside.
文法句型
button [garment]
button up
[garment] buttons (intransitive)
用法筆記
Often used with 'up' to mean fastening completely (button up your coat). The intransitive use describes the garment itself: 'the dress buttons at the back'. Past tense and past participle: buttoned.