breakwater

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)
• HYPHEN: break=wa=ter

CIDE DICTIONARY

breakwater, n. 

 Any structure or contrivance, as a mole, or a wall at the mouth of a harbor, to break the force of waves, and afford protection from their violence.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

breakwater, n. a barrier built out into the sea to break the force of waves.

THESAURUS

breakwater

abutment, anchorage, anchorage ground, arc-boutant, arch dam, backstop, bamboo curtain, bank, bar, barrage, barrier, basin, beam, bear-trap dam, beaver dam, berth, bill, boom, breastwork, brick wall, buffer, bulkhead, bulwark, buttress, buttress pier, buttressing, cape, chersonese, cofferdam, coral reef, dam, defense, delta, dike, ditch, dock, dockage, dockyard, dry dock, earthwork, embankment, fence, flying buttress, foreland, gate, gravity dam, groin, hanging buttress, harbor, harborage, haven, head, headland, hook, hydraulic-fill dam, iron curtain, jam, jetty, jutty, landing, landing place, landing stage, leaping weir, levee, logjam, marina, milldam, moat, mole, moorings, mound, mull, naze, ness, parapet, peninsula, pier, pier buttress, point, port, portcullis, promontory, protected anchorage, quay, rampart, reef, retaining wall, road, roadblock, roads, roadstead, rock-fill dam, sandspit, seaport, seawall, shipyard, shoulder, shutter dam, slip, spit, spur, stone wall, tongue, wall, weir, wharf, wicket dam, work

ROGET THESAURUS

breakwater

Refuge

N refuge, sanctuary, retreat, fastness, acropolis, keep, last resort, ward, prison, asylum, ark, home, refuge for the destitute, almshouse, hiding place, sanctum sanctorum, roadstead, anchorage, breakwater, mole, port, haven, harbor, harbor of refuge, seaport, pier, jetty, embankment, quay, covert, cover, shelter, screen, lee wall, wing, shield, umbrella, barrier, dashboard, dasher, wall, fort, anchor, kedge, grapnel, grappling iron, sheet anchor, killick, mainstay, support, cheek, ballast, jury mast, vent-peg, safety valve, blow-off valve, safety lamp, lightning rod, lightning conductor, safety belt, airbag, seat belt, antilock brakes, antiskid tires, snow tires, means of escape, lifeboat, lifejacket, life buoy, swimming belt, cork jacket, parachute, plank, steppingstone, emergency landing, safeguard, any port in a storm, bibere venenum in auro, valet anchora virtus.