Dictionary

button up en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Meanings

1. (transitive) To fasten with a button or buttons.
   • Button up your shirt cuff. It has come undone.
2. (intransitive) To fasten all the buttons on a coat, or similar item of clothing, to keep warm.
   • Button up well. It's freezing outside today.
3. (ambitransitive) To conclude; to finalize; to put the finishing touches (on).
   • It's time to button up the meeting.
4. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of button up one's lip.
   alt of button up one's lip
   • He needs to button up.
5. (US, ergative, slang, transitive) To seal off (a military vehicle or facility).
   • We fired at the tanks and caused them to "button up" and then we started shooting the infantry. 1997, “Statement of S/Sgt. Alfred Sueflow, Company E, 253rd Infantry”, in Battle Between the Jagst and Kocher Rivers, 4-12 April 1945, page 136:
   • Once buttoned up, NORAD's operation center can survive for more than 30 days without aid from the outside world. 1996, Airman, volume 40, page 6:
   • He turned a key. NORAD buttoned up. The outside lights, flashing for half an hour now in warning of a simulated attack, stopped. Whoever was inside would stay inside. Whoever was outside would not be able to get in […] 2000, Bonnie Ramthun, Ground Zero, page 6:

Forms

Translations (20)

es abrocharse (to fasten all buttons to keep warm) · ro încheia (to fasten with a button or buttons) · ota ایلیكلمك (to fasten with a button or buttons) · ru застёгивать (to fasten with a button or buttons) · gl abotoar (to fasten with a button or buttons) · ota دوگمهلنمك (to fasten all buttons to keep warm) · nb kneppe igjen (to fasten with a button or buttons) · ota دوگمهلمك (to fasten with a button or buttons) · tr iliklemek (to fasten with a button or buttons) · gl abotoar (to fasten all buttons to keep warm) · fi laittaa napit kiinni (to fasten all buttons to keep warm) · fi sulkea napit (to fasten all buttons to keep warm) · ru застегну́ться (to fasten all buttons to keep warm) · es abotonar (to fasten with a button or buttons) · fi napittaa itsensä (to fasten all buttons to keep warm) · nb spenne (to fasten with a button or buttons) · fi napittaa (to fasten with a button or buttons) · tr düğmelemek (to fasten with a button or buttons) · ru застёгиваться (to fasten all buttons to keep warm) · ru застегну́ть (to fasten with a button or buttons)