breaker

¹

[ brey-ker ]

noun

1. a person or thing that breaks.
2. a wave that breaks or dashes into foam.
3. Citizens Band Radio Slang. a person who indicates a wish to transmit a message, as by breaking in on a channel.
4. Also called breaker strip. Automotive. a strip of fabric under the tread of a pneumatic tire casing, designed to protect the carcass.
5. Textiles.
   1. brake ¹( def 5 ).
   2. a machine that separates the fiber from foreign matter in preparation for the carding process.
6. Also called prairie breaker. a plow with a long, low moldboard for turning virgin land.
7. Electricity. circuit breaker ( def 1 ).
8. Mining.
   1. a building where coal delivered from a mine is broken up and sorted.
   2. a machine that reduces large lumps of coal or ore to a size that can be accommodated by a conveyor belt.
9. a break dancer.

interjection

1. Citizens Band Radio Slang. (used to announce that a person is about to transmit a message or question on a channel, especially one already in use.)

breaker

²

[ brey-ker ]

noun

, Nautical.

1. a small water cask for use in a boat.

breaker

¹

/ ˈbreɪkə /

noun

1. a person or thing that breaks something, such as a person or firm that breaks up old cars, etc
2. a large wave with a white crest on the open sea or one that breaks into foam on the shore
3. electronics short for circuit breaker
4. a machine or plant for crushing rocks or coal
5. Also calledbreaking plough a plough with a long shallow mouldboard for turning virgin land or sod land
6. textiles a machine for extracting fibre preparatory to carding
7. an operator on citizens' band radio

breaker

²

/ ˈbreɪkə /

noun

1. a small water cask for use in a boat

breaker

/ brā′kər /

1. A wave that crests or breaks into foam, as against a shoreline.
2. A circuit breaker.

Word History and Origins

Origin of breaker¹

First recorded in 1125–75; break + -er ¹( def )

Origin of breaker²

First recorded in 1825–35; said to be alteration of Spanish bareca, variant of barrica “small keg”

Word History and Origins

Origin of breaker¹

C19: anglicized variant of Spanish barrica , from French (Gascon dialect) barrique

Synonym Study

See wave.

Example Sentences

It's not necessarily a deal-breaker, but it is kind of a top priority.

From The Daily Beast

There is such a thing in presidential primary politics as a single-issue deal-breaker.

From The Daily Beast

Mixing meat and dairy is a kosher rule-breaker, so they switched the cheese for potatoes.

From The Daily Beast

For Aga Malarczyk, 37, one of more than 50,000 Polish citizens living in Scotland, this is a deal breaker.

From The Daily Beast

Ariana Grande, leader of men and breaker of chains, makes quick work of the sad cages and frees her friends.

From The Daily Beast

Follow with the big breaker--it wants a strong man to keep that share in--as close as you can.

From Project Gutenberg

This swashing affects not only the broken part of the waves, but all the water between the outer breaker and the shore.

From Project Gutenberg

A small keg, or breaker, was thrown overboard and picked up, with a bag of fifteen or twenty pounds of hardtack.

From Project Gutenberg

And then, through a V in the sandhills, the sea had appeared, and the lazy crash of a breaker had been heard.

From Project Gutenberg

The wind shook the house to its crazy foundations and drove the crest of a breaker against the panes.

From Project Gutenberg