buckle

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verb

Definition of BUCKLE

1

to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure <the flimsy bridge buckled under the weight of the caravan of trucks>

Synonyms buckle, cave (in), crumple, founder, give, go, go out, implode, tumble, yield

Related Words deflate, flatten, melt, melt down; break, break down, conk (out), crash, die, fail, give out, stall; burst, shatter, smash, splinter, split; crack, crumble, pop, snap

Near Antonyms inflate, rise, swell

2

to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention <buckled himself down and finished the assignment in record time>

Synonyms address, bend, buckle, devote, give

Related Words readdress, reapply; knuckle down, set (to), settle (down); busy, commit, concern, engage, involve; exert, exhaust, put out, spend, strain, stress, tax, trouble, wear out; carry on, pitch in, plunge (in); grind, hump, hustle, peg (away), plod, plow, plug (away), work

Near Antonyms dally, dawdle, dillydally, fiddle (around), fool around, idle, mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle