breaker

¹ American  

[brey-ker] / ˈbreɪ kər /

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.

   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.

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.

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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 American  

[brey-ker] / ˈbreɪ kər /

noun

Nautical.

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

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breaker ¹ British  

/ 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 called: breaking 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

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breaker ² British  

/ ˈbreɪkə /

noun

1. a small water cask for use in a boat

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breaker Scientific  

/ brā′kər /

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

2. A circuit breaker.

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Related Words

See wave.

Etymology

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”

Example Sentences

The company formerly known as Research In Motion abandoned hand-held devices a decade ago, and it feels more like a century ago when phones had clicky keyboards and everyone was obsessed with Brick Breaker.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

A place where one can come for the fantasy, and stay for the chicken etouffee and the Hex Breaker, a tiki-style, rum-heavy drink for grown-up sorcerers.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

A 2012 presentation which later turned into a viral video "Rule Breaker" showed Tuchel explaining how he and his staff worked on transforming Bundesliga side Mainz into a fearsome attack-minded team.

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2024

She decided to reach out to Meghann Quinn, co-owner of Bale Breaker Brewing Company, to join forces in a technically separated but operationally communal space.

From Washington Post • Sep. 15, 2022

“All kneel for Daenerys Stormborn, the Unbumt, Queen of Meereen, Queen of theAn- dals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Khaleesi of Great Grass Sea, Breaker ofShackles and Mother ofDragons, ’’Missandei called.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin