Button-lip


a small disk, knob, or the like for sewing or otherwise attaching to an article, as of clothing, serving as a fastening when passed through a buttonhole or loop.
anything resembling a button, especially in being small and round, as any of various candies, ornaments, tags, identification badges, reflectors, markers, etc.
a badge or emblem bearing a name, slogan, identifying figure, etc., for wear on the lapel, dress, etc.:
campaign buttons.
any small knob or disk pressed to activate an electric circuit, release a spring, or otherwise operate or open a machine, small door, toy, etc.
Botany. a bud or other protuberant part of a plant.
Mycology.

a young or undeveloped mushroom.
any protuberant part of a fungus.

Zoology. any of various small parts or structures resembling a button, as the rattle at the tip of the tail in a very young rattlesnake.
Boxing Informal. the point of the chin.
Also called turn button. a fastener for a door, window, etc., having two arms and rotating on a pivot that is attached to the frame.
Metallurgy. (in assaying) a small globule or lump of metal at the bottom of a crucible after fusion.
Fencing. the protective, blunting knob fixed to the point of a foil.
Horology, crown (def 19).
Computers. (in a graphical user interface) any of the small, labeled areas upon which the user can click with a mouse to choose an option.
to fasten with a button or buttons:
She quickly buttoned her coat.
to insert (a button) in a buttonhole or loop:
He buttoned the top button of his shirt.
to provide (something) with a button or buttons.
to be capable of being buttoned:
This coat buttons, but that one zips.
button up, Informal.

Also, button one’s lip. to become or keep silent.
to fasten securely; close up:
Within a short time, everything on the submarine was buttoned up.
to fasten fully or put on, especially an outer garment:
Button up before going out.
to complete successfully; finish:
The report is all buttoned up.

have all one’s buttons, Informal. to be mentally competent, alert, and sane; have all one’s wits:
At 106 she still has all her buttons.
on the button, Informal. exactly as desired, expected, specified, etc.:
The prediction for snow was right on the button.
either of the two fleshy parts or folds forming the margins of the mouth and functioning in speech.
Usually, lips. these parts as organs of speech:
I heard it from his own lips.
a projecting edge on a container or other hollow object:
the lip of a pitcher.
a liplike part or structure, especially of anatomy.
any edge or rim.
the edge of an opening or cavity, as of a canyon or a wound:
the lip of the crater.
Slang. impudent talk; back talk:
Don’t give me any of your lip.
Botany. either of the two parts into which the corolla or calyx of certain plants, especially of the mint family, is divided.
Zoology.

a labium.
the outer or the inner margin of the aperture of a gastropod’s shell.

Music. the position and arrangement of lips and tongue in playing a wind instrument; embouchure.
the cutting edge of a tool.
the blade, at the end of an auger, which cuts the chip after it has been circumscribed by the spur.
(in a twist drill) the cutting edge at the bottom of each flute.
of or relating to the lips or a lip:
lip ointment.
characterized by or made with the lips:
to read lip movements.
superficial or insincere:
to offer lip praise.
to touch with the lips.
Golf. to hit the ball over the rim of (the hole).
to utter, especially softly.
to kiss.
to use the lips in playing a musical wind instrument.
lip off, Slang. to talk impudently or belligerently.
bite one’s lip / tongue, to repress one’s anger or other emotions:
He wanted to return the insult, but bit his lip.
button one’s lip, Slang. to keep silent, especially, to refrain from revealing information:
They told him to button his lip if he didn’t want trouble.
Also, button up.
hang on the lips of, to listen to very attentively:
The members of the club hung on the lips of the visiting lecturer.
keep a stiff upper lip,

to face misfortune bravely and resolutely:
Throughout the crisis they kept a stiff upper lip.
to suppress the display of any emotion.

smack one’s lips, to indicate one’s keen enjoyment or pleasurable anticipation of:
We smacked our lips over the delicious meal.
noun
a disc or knob of plastic, wood, etc, attached to a garment, etc, usually for fastening two surfaces together by passing it through a buttonhole or loop
a small round object, such as any of various sweets, decorations, or badges
a small disc that completes an electric circuit when pushed, as one that operates a doorbell or machine
a symbolic representation of a button on the screen of a computer that is notionally depressed by manipulating the mouse to initiate an action
(biology) any rounded knoblike part or organ, such as an unripe mushroom
(fencing) the protective knob fixed to the point of a foil
a small amount of metal, usually lead, with which gold or silver is fused, thus concentrating it during assaying
the piece of a weld that pulls out during the destructive testing of spot welds
(rowing) a projection around the loom of an oar that prevents it slipping through the rowlock
(Brit) an object of no value (esp in the phrase not worth a button)
(slang) intellect; mental capacity (in such phrases as a button short, to have all one’s buttons, etc)
(informal) on the button, exactly; precisely
verb
to fasten with a button or buttons
(transitive) to provide with buttons
(transitive) (fencing) to hit (an opponent) with the button of one’s foil
button one’s lip, button up one’s lip, button one’s mouth, button up one’s mouth, to stop talking: often imperative
noun
(anatomy)

either of the two fleshy folds surrounding the mouth, playing an important role in the production of speech sounds, retaining food in the mouth, etc related adjective labial
(as modifier): lip salve

the corresponding part in animals, esp mammals
any structure resembling a lip, such as the rim of a crater, the margin of a gastropod shell, etc
a nontechnical word for labium, labellum (sense 1)
(slang) impudent talk or backchat
the embouchure and control in the lips needed to blow wind and brass instruments
bite one’s lip

to stifle one’s feelings
to be annoyed or irritated

(slang) button one’s lip, button up one’s lip, to stop talking: often imperative
keep a stiff upper lip, to maintain one’s courage or composure during a time of trouble without giving way to or revealing one’s emotions
lick one’s lips, smack one’s lips, to anticipate or recall something with glee or relish
verb lips, lipping, lipped
(transitive) to touch with the lip or lips
(transitive) to form or be a lip or lips for
(transitive) (rare) to murmur or whisper
(intransitive) to use the lips in playing a wind instrument
n.
v.
n.
v.

The chin; point of the chin: I got clipped square on the button (1920+)
The clitoris; clit (1870s+)
A small quantity of a narcotic: There exists some traffic, however, in ”buttons,” or small amounts (1960s+ Narcotics)
The rounded top of the peyote plant (1960s+ Narcotics)
A police officer’s badge; potsy, tin (1920s+)
(also buttons) A police officer •Blue and buttons was used of the police (1900+)

Insolent, impertinent, or presumptuous talk; sass, sauce: I don’t want none of your lip (1821+)
A lawyer; mouthpiece (1929+ Underworld)

button one’s lip
button up

Read Also:

  • Button-hole

    the hole, slit, or loop through which a button is passed and by which it is secured. Chiefly British. a boutonniere. Surgery. a short, straight incision through the wall of a cavity or a canal. to sew with a buttonhole stitch. to make buttonholes in. to hold by the buttonhole or otherwise abruptly detain (someone) […]

  • Buttonhole

    the hole, slit, or loop through which a button is passed and by which it is secured. Chiefly British. a boutonniere. Surgery. a short, straight incision through the wall of a cavity or a canal. to sew with a buttonhole stitch. to make buttonholes in. to hold by the buttonhole or otherwise abruptly detain (someone) […]

  • Buttonhook

    a small, usually metal hook for pulling buttons through buttonholes, as on gloves, dresses, breeches, etc. Historical Examples The Mystery of Arnold Hall Helen M. Persons The Boy Mechanic, Book 2 Various Anecdotes of the Great War Carleton Britton Case Christopher and Columbus Countess Elizabeth Von Arnim Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 3 […]

  • Button-man

    soldier (def 5).

  • Button-mangrove

    a tropical tree, Conocarpus erectus, having small, reddish, conelike fruits and bark used in tanning.


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