What does the saying, "Break the ice" really mean?

What does the saying, "Break the ice" really mean? 

     In this busy world, day to day we are meeting so many new people. Every time, the first meeting is not too easy to speak with a new set of people. Some people don't know how to start their conversation because the first impression is the best. Due to this, everyone will think and hesitate to talk in their first meeting. If they know how to, "break the ice" then it's easy for their upcoming conversation. 

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Definition : 

Break the ice - 

1. To remove the tension at a first meeting, business party, etc., 

2. To break down the first silence, to make the people more comfortable

3. To say something to make people comfortable in their first meeting 

Examples : 

1. To break the ice, John planned to start his speech with some humour 

2. That joke really broke the ice at the meeting, we all relaxed afterwards

Origin : 

"Break the ice", is one of the most used idioms in the English language. In 1600, this phrase was used in its literal meaning. 

Later, it was used as a phrase. 

Centuries ago, most of the trading was connected by shipping. It was not that much of easy to trade from one country to another with the help of a ship. Because they have to come across so many ice mountains, it was so tough for them to cross them. So they discovered an "ice breaker ship", to divide the ice into small pieces. Then the ship may easily cross it. 

Like this, the first meeting is always strange for most of them. That little bit of nervousness will be there. To overcome that, they have to speak or do something attractive. That is what we mean, by " Break the ice".

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Nowadays, in every college, they are conducting an "ice-breaking" Section for the freshers. Because freshers don't know about the college, so through this "ice-breaking" Section, it's easy for them to overcome their fear. 

I think now you understand this phrase very easily. 

At first, it was used by William Shakespeare in his drama, "The Taming of the Shrew",  Act -1, scene -2

If it be so, sir, that you are the man
Must stead us all, and me amongst the rest,
And if you break the ice and do this feat,
Achieve the elder, set the younger free
For our access, whose hap shall be to have her
Will not so graceless be to be ingrate.

Later in the 17th century, Samual Butler used the phrase "Break the ice", in his poem, 'Hudibras'Hudibras', 

‘The orator we nam’d of late,
Less troubled with the pangs of State
Than with his own impatience,
To give himself first audience,
After he had a while look’d wise,
At last broke silence, and the ice.
Quoth he, There’s nothing makes me doubt
Our last out-goings brought about,
More than to see the characters
Of real jealousies and fears…’