Icebreaker

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  icebreaker \icebreaker\ n.
     1. a ship with a reinforced bow and powerful engines designed
        to break up layers of ice on waterways and keep channels
        open for navigation.
  
     Syn: iceboat.


          [WordNet 1.5]
  
     2. A remark or action intended to relieve tension or reduce
        formality when initiating conversation or beginning a
        speech; it is often a humorous or light remark.
        [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  icebreaker
       n 1: a ship with a reinforced bow to break up ice and keep
            channels open for navigation [syn: {iceboat}]
       2: a beginning that relaxes a tense or formal atmosphere; "he
          told jokes as an icebreaker"

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  icebreaker
       
           A program designed for cracking security on
          a system.
       
          See also: {ICE}.
       
          [{Jargon File}]
       
          (2000-03-18)