circuit breaker

noun

|Updated on: 16 Jul 2018

Definition of circuit breaker

: a switch that automatically interrupts the current of an overloaded electric circuit

See circuit breaker defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of circuit breaker from the Web

To shut off electricity, turn off all small breakers and then shut off the main circuit breaker.

— gary robbins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Safety tips to follow before, during and after an earthquake," 8 July 2018
In an effort to get the system back online, Ray reboots the power and journeys into the bowels of the park to flip the circuit breakers.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "The Ballad of Ray Arnold," 11 June 2018
And then an electrical issue, which tripped a circuit breaker and knocked out power to the cooler where his perishables are stored, forcing the business to close on a sunny Memorial Day, putting a dent in his holiday weekend.

— jim riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Waukesha customers helped save John's Root Beer in 2017. Now John is looking for a better season free of road construction," 30 May 2018
This circuit breaker is still in homes despite safety concerns A quick caveat for our methodology — if Google and Amazon gave us a complete, audio answer to the question, that counted as a successful response.

— jefferson graham, ajc, "Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant were asked 150 questions. Here's who got the most right," 9 May 2018
Issues about Federal Pacific Electric's Stab-Lok circuit breakers were first raised decades ago with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

— elisabeth leamy, ajc, "This circuit breaker is still in homes despite safety concerns," 10 May 2018
The fire also caused circuit breakers to flip on some nearby transformers, causing a small power outage in the neighborhood, Cokefair said.

— frank abderholden, Lake County News-Sun, "Homeowner burned, 10-month-old puppy dies in Antioch fire," 8 May 2018
At Widespread Electrical Sales, the business is all about finding circuit breakers that no one is making anymore.

— Washington Post, "Out of flowers? Flour? Businesses contend with supply crises," 5 Apr. 2018
Today, 80 years after it was built, the home's classic features benefit from modern updates including gas heat, central air conditioning and 200-amp circuit breakers.

— karen a. avitabile, courant.com, "Property of the week: 17 Hickory Lane, West Hartford," 11 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'circuit breaker.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of circuit breaker

1872

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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CIRCUIT BREAKER Defined for English Language Learners

circuit breaker

noun

Definition of circuit breaker for English Language Learners

: a switch that automatically stops the flow of electricity to a place or device if the current becomes too strong or another dangerous problem occurs