buttonhole
/ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl/
noun
- A slit or loop in fabric through which a button is passed to fasten clothing.
- The tailor carefully cut the buttonhole on the shirt cuff.
- She sewed a buttonhole by hand for her coat.
- The buttonhole was too small for the large button.
- A flower or decoration worn in the buttonhole of a jacket lapel.
- The groom's buttonhole matched the bridesmaids' dresses.
- She pinned a small rose to his buttonhole.
- He wore a red carnation in his buttonhole at the wedding.
verb
- To detain someone in conversation, often against their will.
- She tried to buttonhole the manager to complain about the service.
- My neighbor buttonholed me for an hour to talk about his garden.
- The reporter buttonholed the politician after the press conference.
- To make a buttonhole in fabric.
- The machine can buttonhole a dozen shirts in a minute.
- She learned to buttonhole properly in her sewing class.
- He carefully buttonholed the jacket by hand.