waterbreaks

Noun

waterbreak (countable and uncountable, plural waterbreaks)

1. (countable, obsolete) A pothole or similar break in a road's surface caused by rainwater washing away the surface of the road.
   • Many of the entrants drove unusually reckless down the mountains and the unexpected waterbreaks jarred their cars more than 100 miles of rational touring.1908, Motor Age - Volume 14, page 13
2. (countable) A breakwater.
   • Since the islet has a 720 meter long waterbreak connecting the land and the islet it attracts many visitors during summertime.1968, Beautiful Korea, page 594
3. (countable) A barrier built across a steeply sloping road or trail in order to direct the flow of water and prevent erosion.
   • A waterbreak should be extended far enough into the bank on the upper side of the trail to prevent water from cutting around it.1937, Construction of Trails, page 20
4. (broadly, countable) Any artificially constructed system or device to halt the destructive flow of water.
   • Later, about 75 years ago, Ralph's grandfather built "waterbreaks" on his farm, which are the nearest things to broad-base terraces you can imagine.1943, P. Alston Waring, Walter Magnes Teller, Roots in the earth: the small farmer looks ahead, page 91
5. (countable) The time elapsed from an underwater explosion or seismic event until the arrival of the resulting energy wave at a hydrophonic detector.
   • Included in the display will be an active underwater buoy, a depth sensor waterbreak hydrophones unit, and a waterbreak converter.1969, Petroleum Times - Volume 73, page 251
6. (uncountable) The formation of beads of water on a smooth surface, especially when used as an indicator of impurities on the surface.
   • A slurry of 10 grams of powder in 100 milliliters distilled water was carried on a cotton swab and the panels scrubbed until free from waterbreak when rinsed.1960, American Electroplaters' Society, Proceedings of the Convention, page 92

See all 7 meanings of waterbreak