circuit breaker
Definition of circuit breaker
cir´cuit break´er
n.
1.
(Elec.)
A
device
contained
within
an
electrical
circuit
designed
to
interrupt
the
circuit
when
the
current
exceeds
a
preset
value
;
it
is
sometimes
called
a
contact
breaker
.
Its
function
is
to
prevent
fire
or
damage
to
the
circuit
or
the
devices
on
the
circuit
which
could
be
caused
by
excess
current
,
such
as
that
caused
by
a
short-circuit
.
It
differs
from
a
fuse
in
not
having
a
conducting
element
which
melts
(
see
2nd
fuse
,
n
.
).
Circuit
breakers
are
designed
to
be
easily
reset
,
i
.
e
.
to
reclose
the
circuit
after
it
has
been
opened
by
the
circuit
breaker
;
this
is
usually
accomplished
by
simply
moving
a
switch
back
and
forth
.
They
are
commonly
used
in
buildings
to
protect
individual
electrical
lines
,
and
are
often
contained
in
groups
within
a
box
called
a
circuit
breaker
panel
,
which
divides
the
current
from
a
main
electrical
line
into
multiple
circuits
each
protected
by
a
separate
circuit
breaker
.
Less
commonly
they
may
be
found
on
individual
devices
.
Related Words
breaker
,
electrical
fuse
,
fuse
Word:
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