circuitbreaker
nounUK /ˈsɜː.kɪt ˌbreɪ.kər/
US /ˈsɝː.kɪt ˌbreɪ.kɚ/
A circuit breaker is a switch that stops the electricity when something goes wrong.
When the old heater overheated, the circuit breaker flipped off to keep the house safe.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A person or thing that stops a process or activity before it gets out of control.
The new rules act as a circuit breaker against runaway spending.
3. In finance, a temporary halt in trading to calm a falling market.
The stock exchange triggered a circuit breaker after prices dropped sharply.
4. In sports, a decisive move or point that stops an opponent's momentum.
Her ace was a circuit breaker that turned the match around.