icebreaker

Meaning

1. A ship designed to break through ice so that it, or other ships coming behind, can navigate on frozen seas.
2. (figuratively) 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.
3. A lively song and dance routine at the start of a musical.

Synonyms

iceboat

ice-breaker

ice breaker

ice-boat

ease

breader

Translations

brise-glace

Eisbrecher

rompighiaccio

ijsbreker

rompehielos

παγοθραυστικό

παγοθραύστης

quebra-gelo

buzkıran

trencaglaç

παγοθραυστικό πλοίο

brise-glaces

nave rompighiaccio

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈaɪsˌbɹeɪkəɹ/

Etymology

From ice + breaker, in the figurative sense from the expression to break the ice.