breaker

¹

[brey-ker]

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.

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

[brey-ker]

noun

Nautical.

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

breaker

¹

/ 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

breaker

²

/ ˈbreɪkə /

noun

1. a small water cask for use in a boat

breaker

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

2. A circuit breaker.

Word History and Origins

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of breaker¹

C19: anglicized variant of Spanish barrica , from French (Gascon dialect) barrique

Synonym Study

See wave.

Example Sentences

March 2024 was out because soldiers were needed to patrol beach towns filled with American spring breakers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The tiny piece of film was on its way to government code breakers in Washington, D.C.

Read more on Literature

There is also an increased risk of drowning from large breakers, strong rip currents and dangerous waves on rocks through Saturday, according to the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Greater voting control is a deal breaker for Tesla’s robot future, Musk made clear on the company’s third-quarter earnings call.

Read more on Barron's

A retired CalMac ferry is due to begin its final voyage to a breakers yard later, leaving behind a legacy of vital spare parts and mementoes.

Read more on BBC