shatter
verb/ˈʃætə(r)/
/ˈʃætər/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they shatter | /ˈʃætə(r)/ /ˈʃætər/ |
| he / she / it shatters | /ˈʃætəz/ /ˈʃætərz/ |
| past simple shattered | /ˈʃætəd/ /ˈʃætərd/ |
| past participle shattered | /ˈʃætəd/ /ˈʃætərd/ |
| -ing form shattering | /ˈʃætərɪŋ/ /ˈʃætərɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to suddenly break into small pieces; to make something suddenly break into small pieces
- shatter (into something) He dropped the vase and it shattered into pieces on the floor.
- The mirror shattered into a thousand pieces.
- the sound of shattering glass
- shatter something (into something) The explosion shattered all the windows in the building.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- completely
- into
- shatter (something) into pieces
Definitions on the go
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- [transitive, intransitive] to destroy something completely, especially somebody’s feelings, hopes or beliefs; to be destroyed in this way
- shatter something (into something) Anna's self-confidence had been completely shattered.
- Injury shattered his dreams of competing in the Olympics.
- Her experience of divorce shattered her illusions about love.
- shatter (into something) My whole world shattered into a million pieces.
Extra Examples- The moment was abruptly shattered by the sound of Mia's loud voice.
- an event that completely shattered her life
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- completely
- abruptly
- instantly
- …
- [transitive] shatter somebody to make somebody feel extremely shocked and upset
- The unexpected death of their son shattered them.
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘scatter, disperse’): perhaps imitative; compare with scatter.
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shatter