noun
icebreaker
YS-bray-kuhr
Icebreaker (noun) means a ship built with a reinforced hull to smash through frozen sea ice, clearing a path for other vessels. Example: “The icebreaker cut a channel through the frozen harbor.”
noun
1
A ship built with a reinforced hull to smash through frozen sea ice, clearing a path for other vessels.
"The icebreaker cut a channel through the frozen harbor."
2
An activity, question, or joke used to relax people and get conversation going when they don't know each other well.
"The workshop opened with a quick icebreaker to get everyone talking."
"She used a silly icebreaker question to loosen up the room."
How to use icebreaker
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a ship that breaks through ice, or a small activity that helps strangers start talking.
Common pairings
an icebreaker question
an icebreaker game
an icebreaker ship
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Word forms
- Plural
- icebreakers
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ cut a channel through the frozen harbor.
Etymology
From ice + breaker; the social sense comes from the idiom "to break the ice."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for icebreaker
See all rhymes for icebreaker →Frequently asked questions
What does “icebreaker” mean?
The word “icebreaker” means a ship built with a reinforced hull to smash through frozen sea ice, clearing a path for other vessels. In plain terms, either a ship that breaks through ice, or a small activity that helps strangers start talking.
How do you pronounce “icebreaker”?
“Icebreaker” is pronounced YS-bray-kuhr (/ˈaɪsˌbɹeɪkəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “icebreaker” in a sentence?
Here is “icebreaker” used in a sentence: “The icebreaker cut a channel through the frozen harbor.”
What part of speech is “icebreaker”?
“Icebreaker” is a noun.
How many meanings does “icebreaker” have?
“Icebreaker” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a ship built with a reinforced hull to smash through frozen sea ice, clearing a path for other vessels.
