noun
buckling
BUHK-uhl-ihng
noun
1
The structural failure of a material or beam that bends, bulges, or kinks under pressure instead of holding straight, often just before it collapses.
"Engineers added extra supports to stop the roof from buckling under heavy snow."
"The bridge inspectors found early signs of buckling in one of the steel beams."
2
The act of fastening something with a buckle.
"A few seconds of buckling and her seatbelt was secure."
3
A young male goat, roughly one to two years old.
"The farmer kept a buckling separate from the herd until he was fully grown."
How to Use Buckling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually describes something bending or giving way under strain, like metal or a knee buckling.
Common pairings
buckling under pressure
buckling knees
signs of buckling
Word Forms
more buckling comparative, bucklings plural, bucklings plural, bucklings plural, most buckling superlative
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Engineers added extra supports to stop the roof from _____ under heavy snow.
Etymology
Formed from the verb "buckle" plus the "-ing" ending; "buckle" itself comes from Old French "bocle," a shield boss, from Latin "buccula," a small cheek or cheek-strap.