icebreaking
Easing initial awkwardness
Icebreaking is the activity of breaking through ice, especially by ships designed to clear frozen waterways: The vessel was built for icebreaking in Arctic conditions.
More commonly, icebreaking refers to activities or remarks that ease initial awkwardness in social situations: We started with some icebreaking games before the workshop.
An icebreaking question or exercise helps strangers become comfortable with each other.
Preliminary section or presentation
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- greetingExpression of welcome
- acquaintancePerson slightly known
- meetingGathering for discussion
opener · mixer · networking · engagement · rapport · warmup · activity · game
Joint intellectual work
- bondingForming close connections
- cohesionTendency to bind together
- trustConfidence in another
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
communication · synergy · unity · camaraderie · morale · dynamics · groupwork · exercise
Of extreme northern cold
- polarOf extreme latitudes
- vesselReceptacle for contents
- shipSeagoing transport vessel
- hullOuter covering or frame
navigation · expedition · channel · passage · route · convoy · escort · propulsion
introduction
Preliminary section or presentation
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- greetingExpression of welcome
- acquaintancePerson slightly known
meeting · opener · mixer · networking · engagement · rapport · warmup · activity · game · question
collaboration
Joint intellectual work
rapport · communication · synergy · unity · camaraderie · morale · dynamics · groupwork · exercise · workshop
arctic
Of extreme northern cold
hull · navigation · expedition · channel · passage · route · convoy · escort · propulsion · bow
- maritime industriestankers, yacht charter, cargo transport, chartering, dredging
- conversationlistening, talk, talking, chat, speaking
- schmoozingschmooze, schmoozing, hobnobbing, glad-handing, mingling
icebreakingheart-to-heart
Sincere personal discussion
soul-baring · confiding · emotional intimacy · vulnerability
icebreakingawkward silence
Uncomfortable lull in conversation
stonewalling · cold shoulder · alienating · distancing · standoffishness
icebreakingparting ways
Ending association with another
farewell · saying goodbye · drifting apart · severing ties · disengaging
break, breaking, daybreak, breakable, unbreakable, breaker, heartbreak, breakthrough, breakout