Added 9 October 2026
icebreaker
/ˈaɪsˌbɹeɪkəɹ/ noun
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about icebreaker at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A ship designed to break through ice so that it, or other ships coming behind, can navigate on frozen seas.
The steel hulls of ice-breakers are much thicker than those of standard vessels.
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A game, activity, humorous anecdote, etc., designed to ease tension and encourage interaction among individuals in a situation where they do not know each other well.
The new college hallmates were awkward with each other at first, but after a game of charades as an icebreaker, they were laughing like old friends.
- A lively song and dance routine at the start of a musical.
Origin
From ice + breaker, in the figurative sense from the expression to break the ice.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)