You encounter the following sentence while reading:
Laura buckled under the pressure put forth by her parents to pass the exam.
You have not heard the word "buckled" used in this way before, so you look it up in the dictionary and find the following:
Buckle N)
1) a flat, typically rectangular frame with a hinged pin, used for joining the ends of a belt or strap
2) a similarly shaped ornament on a shoe V)
3) to fasten or decorate with a buckle
4) to yield and give way under pressure or strain
Which of the definitions in the dictionary best fits the sentence: "Laura buckled under the pressure put forth by her parents to pass the exam"?

Question

You encounter the following sentence while reading:
Laura buckled under the pressure put forth by her parents to pass the exam.
You have not heard the word "buckled" used in this way before, so you look it up in the dictionary and find the following:
Buckle N)
1) a flat, typically rectangular frame with a hinged pin, used for joining the ends of a belt or strap
2)  a similarly shaped ornament on a shoe V)
3) to fasten or decorate with a buckle
4) to yield and give way under pressure or strain
Which of the definitions in the dictionary best fits the sentence: "Laura buckled under the pressure put forth by her parents to pass the exam"?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The definition is "to yield and give way under pressure or strain," which fits the sentence perfectly, since Laura yielded and gave way under the pressure from her parents. 
Definition 1 is incorrect. This definition is "a flat, typically rectangular frame with a hinged pin" and is a noun. For the sentence in question, it is necessary to use a verb. 
Definition 2 is incorrect. This definition is "a similarly shaped ornament on a shoe" and is a noun. For the sentence in question, it is necessary to use a verb. 
Definition 3 is incorrect. This definition is "to fasten or decorate with a buckle" and is a verb. Although this is a verb, it is the incorrect choice for this sentence.

You Encounter the Following Sentence While Reading