buttonhole (buttonholes plural & 3rd person present) (buttonholing present participle) (buttonholed past tense & past participle )
1 n-count A buttonhole is a hole that you push a button through in order to fasten a shirt, coat, or other piece of clothing.
2 n-count A buttonhole is a flower that you wear on your coat or dress.
(BRIT)
3 verb If you buttonhole someone, you stop them and make them listen to you.
Several people buttonholed television reporters to explain to them their reasons for not voting. V n