buckle

Plural: buckles

Noun

fastener that fastens together two ends of a belt or strap; often has loose prong
a shape distorted by twisting or folding
A metal clasp with a hinged tongue or a spike through which a belt or strap is passed and penetrated by the tongue or spike, in order to fasten the ends of the belt together or to secure the strap to something else.
A metal clasp with a hinged tongue or a spike through which a belt or strap is passed and penetrated by the tongue or spike, in order to fasten the ends of the belt together or to secure the strap to something else.
Some other form of clasp used to fasten two things together.
A metal clasp with a hinged tongue or a spike through which a belt or strap is passed and penetrated by the tongue or spike, in order to fasten the ends of the belt together or to secure the strap to something else.
An image of a clasp used as the brisure of an eighth daughter.
A great conflict or struggle.
A distortion; a bend, bulge, or kink.
A distortion; a bend, bulge, or kink.
An upward, elongated displacement of a roof membrane, frequently occurring over deck joints or insulation, which may indicate movement of the roof assembly.
Usually preceded by a descriptive word: a cake baked with fresh fruit (often blueberries) and a streusel topping.
A curl of hair, especially a kind of crisp curl formerly worn; also (countable, uncountable), the state of hair being curled in this manner.

Verb

Verb Forms: buckled, buckling, buckles

To bend, collapse, or give way under pressure.
fasten with a buckle or buckles
fold or collapse
- "His knees buckled"
bend out of shape, as under pressure or from heat
- "The highway buckled during the heat wave"
To fasten (something) using a buckle (noun sense 1); hence (obsolete), to fasten (something) in any way.
To apply (oneself) to, or prepare (oneself) for, a task or work; also (obsolete), to equip (oneself) for a battle, expedition, etc.
To unite (people) in marriage; to marry.
To apply oneself to or prepare for a task or work.
To unite with someone in marriage; to marry.
To participate in some contest or labour; to join in close fight; to contend.
To cause (something) to bend, or to become distorted.
To curl (hair).
Of a thing (especially a slender structure under compression): to collapse or distort under physical pressure.
Of a person: to (suddenly) cease resisting pressure or stress; to give in or give way, to yield.

Examples

His resolve began to buckle under the pressure of the Words With Friends timer.
It is amazing that he has never buckled after so many years of doing such urgent work.
We can’t use that saw any more. It’s got a buckle in its blade.

Origin / Etymology

The noun is derived from Middle English bokel (“spiked metal ring for fastening; ornamental clasp; boss of a shield; a shield, buckler; (figurative) means of defence”) [and other forms], from Old French boucle, bocle (“spiked metal ring for fastening; boss of a shield; a shield”) [and other forms], from Latin buccula (“cheek strap of a helmet; boss of a shield”) (from bucca (“soft part of the cheek”)).
Noun sense 2 (“great conflict or struggle”) is probably derived from verb sense 1.2.1 (“to apply (oneself) to, or prepare (oneself) for, a task or work”).
The verb is derived from Middle English bokelen, bukelen (“to fasten (something) with a buckle or clasp; to fasten, make fast; to wrap; to arch the body”) [and other forms], from bokel (noun) (see above) + -en (suffix forming the infinitive of verbs).
In verb sense 1.2.1, the sense “to apply (oneself) to, or prepare (oneself) for, a task or work” was derived from the now obsolete sense “to equip (oneself) for a battle, etc.”, and originally alluded to armour being buckled on to the body.

Synonyms

clasp, crumple, heave, warp, break#Verb, buck#Etymology_2, buckle down, cave in#Verb, cave#Verb, crumple#Verb, fold#English:_fall over or collapse, fold#English:_give way or give up, surrender#Verb

Antonyms

unbuckle

Scrabble Score: 14

buckle: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
buckle: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
buckle: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 18

buckle: valid Words With Friends Word