a person or thing that breaks something, such as a person or firm that breaks up old cars, etc a large wave with a white crest on the open sea or one that breaks into foam on the shore - short for circuit breaker
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
break•er1 /ˈbreɪkɚ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- a person or thing that breaks.
- Oceanographya wave that breaks or dashes into foam:We watched the breakers on the beach as the sun set behind us.
break•er1
(brā′kər),USA pronunciation n.
interj.
break•er2 (brā′kər),USA pronunciation n. [Naut.]
- a person or thing that breaks.
- a wave that breaks or dashes into foam.
- Radio and Television, Show Business[CB Radio Slang.]a person who indicates a wish to transmit a message, as by breaking in on a channel.
- AutomotiveAlso called break′er strip′. a strip of fabric under the tread of a pneumatic tire casing, designed to protect the carcass.
- [Textiles.]
- Textilesbrake1 (def. 4).
- Textilesa machine that separates the fiber from foreign matter in preparation for the carding process.
- Also called prairie breaker. a plow with a long, low moldboard for turning virgin land.
- ElectricitySee circuit breaker.
- Mining
- a building where coal delivered from a mine is broken up and sorted.
- Electricitya machine that reduces large lumps of coal or ore to a size that can be accommodated by a conveyor belt.
- Music and Dancea break dancer.
interj.
- Show Business, Radio and Television[CB Radio Slang.](used to announce that a person is about to transmit a message or question on a channel, esp. one already in use.)
- 1125–75; Middle English; see break, -er1
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged . See wave.
break•er2 (brā′kər),USA pronunciation n. [Naut.]
- Nautical, Naval Termsa small water cask for use in a boat.
- said to be alteration of Spanish bareca, variant of barrica small keg 1825–35
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'bone breaker' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):