icebreaker

American  

[ahys-brey-ker] / ˈaɪsˌbreɪ kər /

noun

1. Nautical. a ship specially built for breaking navigable passages through ice.

2. an opening remark, action, etc., designed to ease tension or relieve formality.

   A mild joke can be a good icebreaker.

3. a tool or machine for chopping ice into small pieces.

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icebreaker British  

/ ˈaɪsˌbreɪkə /

noun

1. Also called: iceboat.  a vessel with a reinforced bow for breaking up the ice in bodies of water to keep channels open for navigation

2. any tool or device for breaking ice into smaller pieces

3. something intended to relieve mutual shyness at a gathering of strangers

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Etymology

Origin of icebreaker

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20; ice + breaker ¹

Example Sentences

Lin leaves stacks of “conversation cards” featuring icebreaker questions on the tables at Coffee Confessionals, to help prompt connection between strangers or for those on first dates.

From Los Angeles Times

Most of Russia’s fleet of nuclear submarines and icebreakers is located on the Arctic Kola Peninsula.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the Arctic, Brown worked with an icebreaker captain to navigate directly to the northernmost pole after drifting floes blocked his original plan to travel across the ice.

From The Wall Street Journal

He said Russia should take over and boost its military presence across the region, which includes a growing fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Since Chilcott was also going on what she described as “a fair number of Hinge dates,” she decided to use her fresh bakes as an icebreaker.

From Salon