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circuit breaker
noun
: a switch that automatically interrupts the current of an overloaded electric circuit
Examples of circuit breaker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One was a property tax circuit breaker introduced in the Senate in May.
—J.d. Davidson | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 20 Dec. 2024
If rising floodwaters threaten your home or business, or if you are forced to evacuate, turn off your power at the circuit breaker panel or fuse box.
Stay away from power lines that have fallen or are sagging.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2024
While Iran has demonstrated an interest in industrial control system hacking, it's shown no sign of successfully developing tools and techniques that would allow disruption of physical equipment like circuit breakers.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 9 Jan. 2020
How to restart a nuclear reactor Alas, restarting a nuclear power plant doesn’t involve flipping a comically large circuit breaker.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
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Word History
First Known Use
1872, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near circuit breaker
Cite this Entry
“Circuit breaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circuit%20breaker. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
circuit breaker
noun
: a switch that automatically stops the flow of electric current in an overloaded circuit
More from Merriam-Webster on circuit breaker
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about circuit breaker
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