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1 verb


[intransitive and transitive] to become bent or curved because of heat or pressure, or to make something bend or curve in this way:
The steel pillars began to buckle.
buckle under
The rails buckled under the intense heat of the fire.


[intransitive] if your knees or legs buckle, they become weak and bend [= give way]:
John felt his knees start to buckle.

do something you do not want

[intransitive] to do something that you do not want to do because a difficult situation forces you to do it [= give in]:
He refused to buckle.
buckle under the pressure/strain/weight
A weaker person would have buckled under the weight of criticism.


[intransitive and transitive] to fasten a buckle or be fastened with a buckle:
Amy buckled the belt around her waist.
buckle something on/up/together
Lou was buckling on his revolver.

buckle down

phrasal verb
to start working very hard
buckle down to
You'd better buckle down to some revision now.

buckle up

phrasal verb
to fasten your seat belt in a car, aircraft etc

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