breaker

/ˈbreɪkər/
noun
  1. A large wave that crashes into the shore or onto rocks.
    • The sound of the breakers lulled us to sleep at the beach house.
    • We watched the breakers smash against the cliffs during the storm.
    • The surfers paddled out to catch the big breakers rolling in.
  2. A person or thing that breaks something, such as a machine or a record.
    • He is a world record breaker in the 100-meter sprint.
    • She became a deal breaker in the negotiations when she refused to compromise.
    • The old tractor was a reliable ice breaker on the frozen lake.
  3. A circuit breaker: a safety device that automatically stops the flow of electricity in a circuit.
    • When the power surged, the breaker tripped and the lights went out.
    • You need to reset the breaker in the basement to restore power to the kitchen.
    • The electrician replaced the old breaker with a new one for safety.
  4. A person who breaks into a place, especially a burglar.
    • The safe breaker used special tools to open the locked vault.
    • The house breaker was caught by the police as he tried to escape.
    • Neighbors reported a car breaker stealing items from vehicles on the street.
Synonyms