breaker
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈbɹeɪkɝ// UK //bɹˈeɪkɐ// break·er
n. a large wave that turns into white foam as it hits the shore or a rock.
n. a heavy sea wave that breaks into white foam on the shore or a reef.
The surfers waited for a big breaker to come in.
The small boat struggled to stay upright as a massive breaker crashed over its bow near the rocky coast.
From the safety of the lighthouse, we watched the rhythmic assault of the breakers as they dissolved into a chaotic spray against the jagged cliffs.
From Middle English breker, brekere, equivalent to break + -er. Cognate with Dutch breker, German Low German Breker, German Brecher.
Probably from Spanish barrica (“barrel”). Doublet of barrique.
Usage
Commonly used in the plural when describing the general state of the sea near the shore.