What causes a wave to break when it reaches shore?

Name: What causes a wave to break when it reaches shore?
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The Answer is As waves enter shallow water, the broad waves of deep water become sharp-crested. This transformation begins at wave base, one-half the wavelength. The wave touches the seafloor, and the orbital motion at the bottom of the wave is disrupted. The wave is pushed upward by the sea bottom and becomes oversteepened. Eventually the crest plunges forward as a breaker.

What Causes a Wave to Break When It Reaches Shore