breakwater

breakwater

breakwater offshore structure to protect a harbor from wave energy or deflect currents. When it also serves as a pier, it is called a quay; when covered by a roadway it is called a mole. In the United States a breakwater commonly consists of a long mound of stone rubble and of cheaper materials like rubber tires and oil drums. The flow of waves up its slope, and the formation of swirls by its rough surface dissipate wave energy. A pneumatic breakwater consists of perforated pipes discharging air bubbles; another type has underwater pipes that direct streams of water against approaching waves to cause them to break. Breakwaters are also used to promote sedimentation, which, depending on the breakwater's alignment, will infill to produce a stable beach. The Chesapeake breakwater was the first built in the United States. See coast protection .

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"breakwater." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"breakwater." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-breakwat.html

"breakwater." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-breakwat.html

Learn more about citation styles

breakwater

breakwater.
1. An artificially placed construction in or around a harbour designed to break the force of the sea and to provide shelter for vessels lying within.

2. A low bulkhead across the forecastle deck of a ship which prevents seas which break over the bows or through the hawseholes from running aft. It diverts the water into the scuppers where it is drained overboard.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"breakwater." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"breakwater." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-breakwater.html

"breakwater." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-breakwater.html

Learn more about citation styles

breakwater

break·wa·ter / ˈbrākˌwôtər; -ˌwätər/ • n. a barrier built out into a body of water to protect a coast or harbor from the force of waves.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"breakwater." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"breakwater." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-breakwater.html

"breakwater." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-breakwater.html

Learn more about citation styles

breakwater

breakwateraorta, daughter, exhorter, exporter, extorter, Horta, importer, mortar, porter, quarter, slaughter, snorter, sorter, sporter, supporter, three-quarter, torte, transporter, underwater, water •altar, alter, assaulter, defaulter, falter, Gibraltar, halter, Malta, palter, psalter, salter, vaulter, Walter •flaunter, haunter, saunter, taunter, vaunter •exhauster, Forster •fraudster • granddaughter •stepdaughter • manslaughter •ripsnorter • pole-vaulter • backwater •headquarter • freshwater •breakwater • rainwater • seawater •dishwater • tidewater • Whitewater •saltwater • rosewater • shearwater •firewater •doubter, grouter, outer, pouter, scouter, shouter, spouter, touter •counter, encounter, mounter •jouster, ouster •revcounter •bloater, boater, Botha, Dakota, doter, emoter, floater, gloater, iota, Kota, Minnesota, motor, promoter, quota, rota, rotor, scoter, voter •bolter, coulter (US colter), Volta •boaster, coaster, poster, roaster, toaster •roadster • oldster •bolster, holster, pollster, soulster, upholster •billposter

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"breakwater." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"breakwater." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-breakwater.html

"breakwater." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-breakwater.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Design optimization of floating breakwaters with an interdisciplinary...
Magazine article from: Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering; 11/1/2009
Windfarm cash would shore up breakwater.(News)
Newspaper article from: Daily Post (Liverpool, England); 4/25/2006
WALES: World heritage bid to save breakwater.(News)
Newspaper article from: Daily Post (Liverpool, England); 11/2/2006

Facts and information from other sites

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

See more pictures of breakwater