0 a hole that a button is pushed through to fasten a shirt, coat, etc. --
2 a narrow hole that a button is pushed through to fasten a shirt, coat, etc. --
3 to stop someone and make the person listen to you: --
They took out newspaper ads and buttonholed politicians to lobby for the change.
The buttonhole technique can be used for fistulas requiring frequent access.
Lapels also have a buttonhole, intended to hold a boutonnire, a decorative flower.
First, whatever his leisure-time occupations may be, he certainly never puts a rosette in his buttonhole and arms himself with a rattle to support a football club.
He was exquisitely dressed with an orchid in his buttonhole, gold-topped cane and gloves.
I should like in passing to congratulate him on having found time to be on parade and to acquire the emblem in his buttonhole.
I can see he is wearing a red flower in his buttonhole, which is very significant.
I would not be surprised to see one or two wandering in with a primrose in their buttonhole.
Every day he arrived with a fresh red rose in his buttonhole.
