buttonhole

UK: /ˈbʌt^ənhəʊl/ US: /ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl/ ,(but′n hōl′)

Inflections of 'buttonhole' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

buttonholes

v 3rd person singular

buttonholing

v pres p

buttonholed

v past

buttonholed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

but•ton•hole /ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl/   n., v., -holed, -hol•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. Clothing the hole through which a button is passed and by which it is fastened.

v. [~ + object]

2. to stop (someone) and keep in conversation:
   The reporters buttonholed the witness outside the courtroom.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

but•ton•hole  (but′n hōl′), n., v., -holed, -hol•ing. 
n. 

1. Clothing the hole, slit, or loop through which a button is passed and by which it is secured.
2. British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] a boutonniere.
3. Surgery a short, straight incision through the wall of a cavity or a canal.

v.t. 

4. Clothing to sew with a buttonhole stitch.
5. Clothing 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.

• button + hole 1555–65

but′ton•hol′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

buttonhole / ˈbʌt^ənˌhəʊl/ 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)

1. to detain (a person) in conversation
   Also called: buttonhold
2. to make buttonholes in