breaker point
- noun
- Archaic
:
punto de ruptura
- If the breaker point gap is incorrect, the engine may misfire or run poorly.
Examples
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The mechanic checked the breaker point for signs of wear during the inspection.
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Modern cars no longer use a breaker point system in their ignitions.
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The breaker point in my car needs adjustment.
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I replaced the breaker points last week.
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If the breaker point gap is incorrect, the engine may misfire or run poorly.
-
The mechanic checked the breaker point for signs of wear during the inspection.
-
Modern cars no longer use a breaker point system in their ignitions.
Synonyms
A metal contact in a car's ignition that the rotor arm touches to send electricity to the spark plugs
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning can be partially inferred from the constituents: 'breaker' (a device that interrupts electrical flow) plus 'point' (a specific position/contact) yields the general idea of a contact that breaks current. However, the exact technical function in a vehicle distributor (a movable contact that opens/closes to time spark plug current) is specialized and not fully predictable to a B1 learner, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
Breaker point is named for a small engine part: the breaker that breaks an electric contact and the point where two metal pieces meet. Imagine those metal contacts touching and then separating so the current stops and a spark is made, so the name means the contact that opens and closes to control the spark.
