icebreaker

[ ahys-brey-ker ]

/ ˈaɪsˌbreɪ kər /

Nautical. a ship specially built for breaking navigable passages through ice.

an opening remark, action, etc., designed to ease tension or relieve formality: A mild joke can be a good icebreaker.

a tool or machine for chopping ice into small pieces.

Origin of icebreaker

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20; ice + breaker¹

iceboat, iceboater, icebound, icebox, icebox cake, icebreaker, icecap, iced, icefall, icehouse, icekhana

It functions as an icebreaker the same way trust-fall exercises do.

The Case Against Cards Against Humanity: Is Max Temkin a Horrible Person? (Does It Matter?) |Arthur Chu |July 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
“I thought, ‘What could I do that would immediately try to be an icebreaker with the audience,’” Colbert says.

Stars Who Entertain the Troops |Laura Colarusso |October 6, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
As I was anxious to have the experience of smashing through the ice on an icebreaker, I went aboard the Corwin.

In Search of a Siberian Klondike |Homer B. Hulbert

icebreaker

/ (ˈaɪsˌbreɪkə) /

Also called: iceboat a vessel with a reinforced bow for breaking up the ice in bodies of water to keep channels open for navigation

any tool or device for breaking ice into smaller pieces

something intended to relieve mutual shyness at a gathering of strangers