DictionarybuckleGiving way under pressure
verb

buckle

To bend or give way under pressure.

The thin shelf buckles under the heavy load.

Etymology

The fastener’s curved or looped form underlies the bending verb. A surface or support that buckles bends out of its intended shape when pressure becomes too great.

More examples

  • His knees buckled from exhaustion.
  • Heat caused the metal panel to buckle.
  • The team refused to buckle under pressure.

Forms

buckle · buckles · buckled · buckling

Similar words

bend
Change shape under force without necessarily failing.
collapse
Fall or give way more completely.