## HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

## THE USAGE PANEL

The Usage Panel is a group of nearly 200 prominent scholars, creative writers, journalists, diplomats, and others in occupations requiring mastery of language. Annual surveys have gauged the acceptability of particular usages and grammatical constructions.

The Panelists

## AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

The new American Heritage Dictionary app is now available for iOS and Android.

## THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

The articles in our blog examine new words, revised definitions, interesting images from the fifth edition, discussions of usage, and more.

See word lists from the best-selling 100 Words Series!

Find out more!

## INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Check out the Dictionary Society of North America at http://www.dictionarysociety.com

But·ton (bŭtn), Richard Totten Known as “Dick.” Born 1929. Share: Tweet American figure skater who won seven consecutive US men's championships (1946-1952), five consecutive World Championships (1948-1952), and two Olympic gold medals (1948 and 1952).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

but·ton (bŭtn) Share: Tweet n. 1. a. A generally disk-shaped fastener used to join two parts of a garment by fitting through a buttonhole or loop. b. Such an object used for decoration. 2. Any of various objects resembling a button, especially: a. A push-button switch. b. The blunt tip of a fencing foil. c. A fused metal or glass globule. 3. Computers a. In graphical user interface systems, a well-defined area within the interface that is clicked to select a command. b. In a hypertext database, an icon that when selected allows a user to view a particular associated object. 4. Any of various knoblike structures of an organism, especially: a. An immature, unexpanded mushroom. b. The tip of a rattlesnake's rattle. 5. A usually round flat badge that bears a design or printed information and is typically pinned to a garment: a campaign button. 6. Informal The end of the chin, regarded as the point of impact for a punch. 7. Games a. In card games, especially poker, a plastic disk or similar marker placed in front of the person who is designated as dealer for a particular hand. At the start of each hand, the first card is dealt to the left of the button and the dealing of cards continues clockwise around the table. b. The person who is in possession of this button. c. The position on the gaming table where this button is located. v. but·toned, but·ton·ing, but·tons v.tr. 1. To fasten with buttons: buttoned his shirt; buttoned up her raincoat. 2. To decorate or furnish with buttons. 3. Informal To close (the lips or mouth): Button your lip. v.intr. To be or be capable of being fastened with buttons: The blouse buttons up the back. Phrasal Verb: button up 1. To fasten one's clothing tightly, as against cold weather. 2. To close or seal securely: button up the cabin for winter. 3. To complete the final details of: "Publication is a couple of months off; they're just buttoning up paperback rights" (Donald Dale Jackson). Idiom: on the button Exactly; precisely. [Middle English botoun, from Old French bouton, from bouter, to thrust, of Germanic origin; see bhau- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] button·er n. button·y adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

# Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

# American Heritage Dictionary Products

- The American Heritage Dictionary, 5th Edition

- The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

- The American Heritage Roget's Thesaurus

- Curious George's Dictionary

- The American Heritage Children's Dictionary