buttons

A1 · Beginner Countable noun Computing

n. parts of a machine or computer that you press to make it do something.

n. small parts of an apparatus that are pressed to operate a device or trigger an electronic circuit.

“Don't press any buttons until the screen tells you to start.”

“The technician explained that the red buttons were reserved for emergency shutdowns and should never be touched during routine operations.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun Informal · Dialect

n. an informal name for a television remote control.

n. a colloquial metonym for a remote control device, typically used in domestic settings.

“Pass me the buttons so I can change the channel to the news.”

“In some regional dialects, families still refer to the television remote as 'the buttons', though this usage is declining among younger speakers.”

C1 · Advanced Plural noun Informal · Slang

n. your mental health or ability to think clearly.

n. a person's mental faculties or sanity; used in the idiom 'to lose one's buttons'.

“After working three night shifts in a row, I think I'm losing my buttons.”

“The stress of the trial led many to believe the defendant had finally lost his buttons, as his testimony became increasingly erratic.”