buckle

1 of 3

noun (1)

buck·​le ˈbə-kəl How to pronounce buckle (audio)
1
: a fastening for two loose ends that is attached to one and holds the other by a catch
2
: an ornamental device that suggests a buckle
3
archaic : a crisp curl

buckle

2 of 3

verb

buckled; buckling ˈbə-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce buckle (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to fasten with a buckle
2
: to prepare with vigor
3
: to cause to bend, give way, or crumple

intransitive verb

1
: to become fastened with a buckle
2
: to apply oneself with vigor
usually used with down
buckle down to the job
3
: to bend or move usually under the influence of some external agency
wheat buckling in the wind
4
: collapse
the props buckled under the strain
5
: to give way : yield
he buckled under pressure

buckle

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
: a product of buckling : bend, fold
2
: a coffee cake baked with berries and a crumbly topping
blueberry buckle

Did you know?

Word History of Buckle

The literal meaning of Latin word buccula was “little cheek,” but buccula was also the name for the part of a helmet that protects the cheek. Its medieval French descendant, bouclé, was the word for the boss of a shield, which looks a little like a small cheek on the face of the shield. The use of the word was later extended to belt fasteners. In this sense, the word was borrowed into English.

Examples of buckle in a Sentence

Verb She buckled the horses into their harness. The pavement buckled in the heat.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The goggles also feature easy-to-adjust buckles, anti-fog lenses with 180-degree views, and UV protection. Ambrosia V. Brody, Parents, 14 Mar. 2024 The sandals have an adjustable double buckle that’s both supportive and stylish. Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Now the big question is whether all the regulators pulling on the buckles and loops of Boeing’s straitjacket, with a potential yank from Justice to come, will seriously delay what looked like the start of strong comeback. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 An adjustable length, buckles, and other types of fasteners will help the strap fit securely around your mat for your whole commute. Sara Coughlin, SELF, 21 Feb. 2024 There are some traces of black and red—like on the dashboard, gear shifter, and seat belt buckle—but the vehicle’s leather seats and upholstery are all done up in the lighter shade. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 21 Feb. 2024 Climate and environment This L.A. suburb buckles under extreme heat and record rain. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024 And returning is the Viv’ Canard shoe with the sweetest kitten heel, complete for the first time with the house’s classic buckle. Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024 Comb-like clay objects, a belt buckle and a bone knife sheath were also found, but officials did not specify their age. Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
Glass panes have shattered and sidewalks have buckled. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 But rapid electrification can pose huge challenges to heavy industry, reliant on fossil fuels to provide high-temperature heat; and to grid operators, beginning to buckle under the weight of transmission bottlenecks and variable renewables. Wood MacKenzie, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Slaton was able to sit in the front seat of the car and buckle her seatbelt without an extender. Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 6 Feb. 2024 In a contest between shorthanded contenders that wavered between defensive excellence and offensive ugliness, Denver buckled for a key stretch and recovered too late in a 105-100 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday night. Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2024 The Nighthawks didn’t buckle in the fourth quarter, twice erasing five-point deficits. Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2024 The city has marshaled resources for the new arrivals, but after Congress rejected a deal aimed at slowing the flow of migrants, its support system is starting to buckle. Miriam Jordan, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2024 The asylum system in the United States is already buckling under pressure and a lack of resources. Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2024 With natural disasters now affecting more people across the United States, insurance markets in many states are buckling under the weight of payouts to those hit by wildfires and hurricanes. Rebecca Santana, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'buckle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English bocle, from Anglo-French, boss of a shield, buckle, from Latin buccula, diminutive of bucca cheek

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of buckle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near buckle

Cite this Entry

“Buckle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buckle. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

buckle

1 of 3 noun
buck·​le ˈbək-əl How to pronounce buckle (audio)
: a fastening device which is attached to one end of a belt or strap and through which the other end is passed and held

buckle

2 of 3 verb
buckled; buckling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce buckle (audio)
1
a
: to fasten with a buckle
buckle your seat belt
b
: to fasten a buckle
buckle up for safety
2
: to apply oneself
buckle down to the job
3
: to give way : bend, crumple
the pavement buckled in the heat
knees buckled

buckle

3 of 3 noun
: a product of buckling

More from Merriam-Webster on buckle

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