What does "buckle" mean?
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.
Buckle
/ˈbʌkəl/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: 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.
- Grammar: buckle is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: warp, anamorphism, anamorphosis, apply oneself.
- Useful contrasts: unbelted, dawdle, detach.
- Usage evidence: I've really got to buckle down and study for our final exams.
How to use "buckle"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "buckle" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "buckle" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "buckle" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "buckle" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "buckle" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "warp" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 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.
"Svveet Hellen I muſt vvoe you, / To helpe vn-arme our Hector: his ſtubborne bucles / VVith this your vvhite enchaunting fingers touch; / Shall more obey then to the edge of ſteele, / Or force of Greekiſh ſinevves: […]"
- 2 A distortion; a bend, bulge, or kink. countable
"We can’t use that saw any more. It’s got a buckle in its blade."
- 3 fastener that fastens together two ends of a belt or strap; often has loose prong wordnet
- 4 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. broadly
"He must be forging the buckle-screw, sir, now. […] Carpenter, when he's through with that buckle, tell him to forge a pair of steel shoulder-blades; there's a pedlar aboard with a crushing pack."
- 5 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. countable, uncountable
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a shape distorted by twisting or folding wordnet
- 7 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 (etymology 1 sense 1) used as the brisure of an eighth daughter. Canada
- 8 Usually preceded by a descriptive word: a cake baked with fresh fruit (often blueberries) and a streusel topping. Canada, US, countable
- 9 A great conflict or struggle.
- 10 A curl of hair, especially a kind of crisp curl formerly worn; also (countable, uncountable), the state of hair being curled in this manner. countable, obsolete
"The greatest beau at our next county sessions was dressed in a most monstrous flaxen periwig, that was made in king William's reign. The wearer of it goes, it seems, in his own hair when he is at home, and lets his wig lie in buckle for a whole half year, that he may put it on upon occasion to meet the judges in it."
Verb
- 1 To fasten (something) using a buckle (noun etymology 1 sense 1); hence (obsolete), to fasten (something) in any way. transitive
"Iuſt. [i.e., the Lord Chief Justice, William Gascoigne] VVel, the truth is ſir Iohn, you liue in great infamy. / Falſt[aff]. He that buckles himſelfe in my belt cannot liue in leſſe."
- 2 To cause (something) to bend, or to become distorted. transitive
"[R]eaſon doth buckle and bovve the Mind vnto the Nature of things."
- 3 bend out of shape, as under pressure or from heat wordnet
- 4 To apply (oneself) to, or prepare (oneself) for, a task or work; also (obsolete), to equip (oneself) for a battle, expedition, etc. figuratively, reflexive, transitive
"For this cauſe whẽ the faithfull find themſelues to haue ouercome Satan in one incounter by the grace of Chriſt, let them take good heede that they imagin not their battel to be at an end: but rather let them buckle themſelues to a new charge, and valiantly aduance themſelues to handſtrokes againe."
- 5 To curl (hair). obsolete, transitive
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 fold or collapse wordnet
- 7 To unite (people) in marriage; to marry. British, figuratively, transitive
"[T]ake my advice, and marry in the firſt place vvhere vve can find a curate; or make uſe of our friend the licentiate, vvho vvill buckle you handſomely."
- 8 Of a thing (especially a slender structure under compression): to collapse or distort under physical pressure. intransitive
"And as the vvretch vvhoſe feuer-vveakned ioynts, / Like ſtrengthleſſe hinges buckle vnder life, / […] euen ſo my limbes, / VVeakened vvith griefe, being novv enragde vvith griefe, / Are thrice themſelues: […]"
- 9 fasten with a buckle or buckles wordnet
- 10 To apply oneself to or prepare for a task or work. figuratively, intransitive
"Sir John diſdainfully looking at him, ſaluted him vvith theſe VVords, Farevvel Sir Knave, (for it is to be noted that it is common vvith him to term many honeſt Men ſo). My Brother anſvvered, Sir, You are no leſs. VVhereat one of Sir John’s Men buckled to fight vvith him. But Sir John ſtayed his Man."
- 11 Of a person: to (suddenly) cease resisting pressure or stress; to give in or give way, to yield. figuratively, intransitive
"It is amazing that he has never buckled after so many years of doing such urgent work."
- 12 To unite with someone in marriage; to marry. British, figuratively, intransitive
"Yet thou, they ſay, for Marriage do'ſt provide: / Is this an Age to Buckle vvith a Bride?"
- 13 To participate in some contest or labour; to join in close fight; to contend. dialectal, figuratively, intransitive
"So they buckled together, and the Heithen were diſcomfited, and fled ouer the playne felde: but the hynmoſt of them were ſlayne."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname originating as an occupation for a maker or seller of buckles.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"I've really got to buckle down and study for our final exams."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "buckle"?
Common synonyms include: warp, anamorphism, anamorphosis, apply oneself, articulate, asymmetry.
How do you use "buckle" in a sentence?
I've really got to buckle down and study for our final exams.
How do you pronounce "buckle"?
Pronounced /ˈbʌkəl/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
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 etymology 1 sense 2 (“great conflict or struggle”) is probably derived from verb etymology 1 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 etymology 1 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.
Etymology 2
Origin uncertain. Probably from Middle English bokelen (“to arch the body”), from Middle French boucler (“to bulge”, literally “to take the shape of a shield boss”), from the same ultimate origin as Etymology 1 above. In some senses, possibly from buck (“to bend, yield, buckle”) + -le (frequentative suffix).