shatter

- 3 dictionary results

shat⋅ter

[shat-er]

–verb (used with object)

1.	to break (something) into pieces, as by a blow.

2.	to damage, as by breaking or crushing: ships shattered by storms.

3.	to impair or destroy (health, nerves, etc.): The incident shattered his composure.

4.	to weaken, destroy, or refute (ideas, opinions, etc.): He wanted to shatter her illusions.

–verb (used without object)

5.	to be broken into fragments or become weak or insubstantial.

–noun

6.	Usually, shatters. fragments made by shattering.

Origin:
1300–50; ME schateren < ?; cf. scatter

Related forms:

shat⋅ter⋅er, noun

shat⋅ter⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. shiver, split, crack. See break.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

shat·ter (shāt'ər)

v. shat·tered, shat·ter·ing, shat·ters

v. tr.

To cause to break or burst suddenly into pieces, as with a violent blow.
1. To damage seriously; disable: His health was shattered by the disease.
2. To cause the destruction or ruin of; destroy: The outcome of the conflict shattered our dreams of peace and prosperity.

v. intr.
To break into pieces; smash or burst. See Synonyms at break.
n.

1. The act of shattering.
2. The condition of being shattered.
A splintered or fragmented condition. Often used in the plural: a rare piece of porcelain now in shatters.

[Middle English schateren, from Old English *sceaterian, to scatter.]
shat'ter·ing·ly adv.

Word Origin & History

shatter

c.1330, probably a variant of M.E. scateren (see scatter). Cf. O.Du. schetteren Low Ger. schateren.

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