buckle

1 of 3

noun (1)

buck·​le ˈbə-kəl 

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 

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.

Synonyms

Verb

• cave (in)
• collapse
• crumple
• founder
• give
• go
• go out
• implode
• tumble
• yield

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

Wooseok attended the Prada men’s spring 2025 show in Milan last June, donning a dark look composed of tailored pants and a thick woolen knit, accented by a white leather belt with a tone-on-tone buckle placed on the side, a white shirt and tie. —Martino Carrera, WWD, 4 Nov. 2024

This black belt has a timeless, luxe gold Western-style buckle. —Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024

Verb

Not Sitting in Your Seat With Your Seatbelt Buckled Airlines reserve the right to remove passengers who can't safely buckle into their seats. —Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2024

Extreme heat and rain can cause major infrastructure damage, ranging from buckling roads and warped railroad lines to overflowing storm drains. —Alissa Widman Neese, Axios, 9 Oct. 2024

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

Phrases Containing buckle

• buckle down
• buckle up

Kids Definition

buckle

1 of 3 noun

buck·​le ˈbək-əl 

: 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 

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