Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Shatter?

\Shat"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shattered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Shattering}.] [OE. schateren, scateren, to scatter, to dash, AS. scateran; cf. D. schateren to crack, to make a great noise, OD. schetteren to scatter, to burst, to crack. Cf. {Scatter}.] 1. To break at once into many pieces; to dash, burst, or part violently into fragments; to rend into splinters; as, an explosion shatters a rock or a bomb; too much steam shatters a boiler; an oak is shattered by lightning. A monarchy was shattered to pieces, and divided amongst revolted subjects. --Locke. 2. To disorder; to derange; to render unsound; as, to be shattered in intellect; his constitution was shattered; his hopes were shattered. A man of a loose, volatile, and shattered humor. --Norris. 3. To scatter about. [Obs.] Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year. --Milton.
\Shat"ter\, v. i. To be broken into fragments; to fall or crumble to pieces by any force applied. Some fragile bodies break but where the force is; some shatter and fly in many places. --Bacon.
\Shat"ter\, n. A fragment of anything shattered; -- used chiefly or soley in the phrase into shatters; as, to break a glass into shatters. --Swift.