noun
breakwater
Breakwater (noun) means a barrier built in or near a harbour to reduce the sea's force and give boats shelter.
noun
1
A barrier built in or near a harbour to reduce the sea's force and give boats shelter.
"They sailed around a breakwater that hadn't existed on Peregrine's last trip and tied in at the moorage."
— Vernor Vinge, A Fire Upon the Deep (1992)
2
(nautical) A low wall across the front deck of a ship that directs incoming waves away into the drainage channels.
3
A barrier, usually made of wood or concrete, set out from the shore to stop sand drifting along a coastline.
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Etymology
Formed from break and water. Compare Dutch breekwater (“breakwater”), and compare firebreak.
Related words
Rhymes for breakwater
See all rhymes for breakwater →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of breakwater?
"breakwater" (noun) means a barrier built in or near a harbour to reduce the sea's force and give boats shelter.
What is another word for breakwater?
Other words for "breakwater" include seawall, jetty, groyne, groin, bulwark, mole.
What are the different meanings of breakwater?
"breakwater" has 3 main meanings: 1. A barrier built in or near a harbour to reduce the sea's force and give boats shelter; 2. (nautical) A low wall across the front deck of a ship that directs incoming waves away into the drainage channels; 3. A barrier, usually made of wood or concrete, set out from the shore to stop sand drifting along a coastline.
