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Definition of icebreaker
1 : a ship equipped (as with a reinforced bow) to make and maintain a channel through ice
2 : something that is done or said to get through the first difficulties in starting a conversation or discussion Roughly half of all Americans are invested in the market these days, and stock holdings have replaced politics, weather and sports as the go-to conversational icebreaker. — Adam Bryant … she also pays particular attention to icebreakers that relax guests and get them rubbing elbows, such as a cruise up the Colorado River, where guests nibble on hors d'oeuvres and sip Fall Creek wines. — Steve Heimoff — see also break the ice at 1break
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Examples of icebreaker in a Sentence
using an old joke as a conversational icebreaker
Recent Examples of icebreaker from the Web
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The icebreaker rides on top of the ice and then the weight of the ship breaks it.
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In the best case, the first new icebreaker will float out of dry dock six years from now.
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The camp organizers had a lot of team building activities and icebreaker games on the first day.
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Many are sturdy coast guard icebreakers, adventure cruises and thrill-seekers in small, nimble boats hoping to pick their way through fields of floating ice that can easily strand unprepared mariners.
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An icebreaker breaks a channel through the sea ice to allow the ship safe passage to McMurdo.
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Reports indicate Russia has 41 icebreakers and 11 more in development.
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Packer sailed over from St. Tropez on his Arctic P, a 287-foot icebreaker that his father converted into a yacht.
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Packer sailed over from St. Tropez on his Arctic P, a 287-foot icebreaker that his father converted into a yacht.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'icebreaker.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of icebreaker
1825
ICEBREAKER Defined for English Language Learners
icebreaker
playDefinition of icebreaker for English Language Learners
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: a ship designed to clear a passage through ice
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: something done or said to help people to relax and begin talking at a meeting, party, etc.
ICEBREAKER Defined for Kids
icebreaker
playDefinition of icebreaker for Students
1 : a ship equipped to make and keep open a channel through ice
2 : something said or done that helps people relax and begin talking in a social situation The party game was a good icebreaker.
Learn More about icebreaker
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See words that rhyme with icebreaker Spanish Central: Translation of icebreaker Nglish: Translation of icebreaker for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about icebreaker
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