icebreaker

• ice breaker
• ice-breaker

ice +‎ breaker

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈaɪsˌbɹeɪkəɹ/

icebreaker (plural icebreakers)

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.

   • 2005, Martin Torgoff, Can't Find My Way Home, Simon & Schuster, published 2005, page 11:

     My father's Bonneville was cutting its way toward us like an icebreaker moving through my whole state of consciousness.

2. A game, activity, humorous anecdote, etc., designed to relax a group of people to help them get to know each other.

   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.

3. (theater) A lively song and dance routine at the start of a musical.
   • 2014, Maggie Davis, Stage Door Canteen

     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.

• (game, activity, humorous anecdote, etc): break the ice
• (ship): slushbreaker