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Icebreaker
//ˈaɪsˌbɹeɪkəɹ// noun
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A ship designed to break through ice so that it, or other ships coming behind, can navigate on frozen seas.
"The steel hulls of ice-breakers are much thicker than those of standard vessels."
- 2 a beginning that relaxes a tense or formal atmosphere wordnet
- 3 A game, activity, humorous anecdote, etc., designed to ease tension and encourage interaction among individuals in a situation where they do not know each other well. figuratively
"The new college hallmates were awkward with each other at first, but after a game of charades as an icebreaker, they were laughing like old friends."
- 4 a ship with a reinforced bow to break up ice and keep channels open for navigation wordnet
- 5 A lively song and dance routine at the start of a musical.
"At the moment the curtain went up there had to be a lively ensemble number of principals and chorus singing and dancing, the traditional “icebreaker” that also covered up the noise of late-arriving ticket holders getting to their seats."
Etymology
From ice + breaker, in the figurative sense from the expression to break the ice.
See also for "icebreaker"
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