buttons

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of button. Use this form when talking about more than one button.

   My coat has three buttons missing.

   He pressed all the buttons in the elevator.

   Note
2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular present of button. Use it when one person or thing does the action now.

   He buttons his shirt slowly each morning.

   She buttons the coat tightly before going out.

   Note
3. 3
   nouncolloquial

   A small handheld controller used to operate a television or other device from across the room.

   Like the little control you press to change TV channels.

   Pass me the buttons so I can change the channel.

   He lost the buttons between the couch cushions again.

   Similarremote, clicker, zapper

4. 4
   nounslangcountable

   A police officer, especially in older informal speech.

   The buttons showed up just as the fight broke out.

   A couple of buttons were patrolling the corner that night.

   Similarcops, coppers, police

   Note
5. 5
   nouncolloquialcountable

   A person's sanity or ability to think clearly.

   Like the way we say someone 'lost their marbles.'

   After the long fever, the old man seemed to have lost his buttons.

   At ninety, she still has every one of her buttons.

   Similarmarbles

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable

   The droppings of sheep, which form small round pellets.

   Like the little round pellets that rabbits leave behind.

   The meadow was dotted with buttons after the flock moved through.

   He scraped the dried buttons from the pen floor each morning.

   Similardroppings, pellets, dung

7. 7
   nouncountable

   A small South African plant with thick, button-shaped leaves that store water.

   Like tiny green pebbles that swell up when they soak in water.

   Several buttons sat in shallow pots along the greenhouse bench.

   The buttons plump up after the first winter rains.

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