icebreaker

[ ahys-brey-ker ]

noun

1. Nautical. a ship specially built for breaking navigable passages through ice.
2. an opening remark, action, etc., designed to ease tension or relieve formality:

   A mild joke can be a good icebreaker.

3. a tool or machine for chopping ice into small pieces.

icebreaker

/ ˈaɪsˌbreɪkə /

noun

1. Also callediceboat a vessel with a reinforced bow for breaking up the ice in bodies of water to keep channels open for navigation
2. any tool or device for breaking ice into smaller pieces
3. something intended to relieve mutual shyness at a gathering of strangers

Word History and Origins

Origin of icebreaker¹

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20; ice + breaker ¹

Example Sentences

Luke’s dinner, however, was not nearly as conducive to the icebreaker.

From Washington Post

During other months, less effort is needed by icebreakers to sustain transportation.

From Ozy

In one of my classes, they focused on fostering connections, with group chats and icebreakers to get to know each other.

From Washington Post

At the event, Katie set out notebooks, pens and Starbursts for an icebreaker activity at every desk.

From Washington Post

I spent a lot of time on icebreakers in February 1987 looking for life in the ocean below the Ross Ice Shelf, which is almost 200,000 square miles, about the size of France, and more than 2,000 feet thick.

From Quanta Magazine

It functions as an icebreaker the same way trust-fall exercises do.

From The Daily Beast

This could replace the ice cream social as the college freshman icebreaker of choice.

From The Daily Beast

“I thought, ‘What could I do that would immediately try to be an icebreaker with the audience,’” Colbert says.

From The Daily Beast

As I was anxious to have the experience of smashing through the ice on an icebreaker, I went aboard the Corwin.

From Project Gutenberg