/ ˈʃætə(r); NAmE / verb
1.
shatter (sth) (into sth) to suddenly break into small pieces; to make sth suddenly break into small pieces :
[ v ]
He dropped the vase and it shattered into pieces on the floor.
the sound of shattering glass
[ vn ]
The explosion shattered all the windows in the building.
2.
shatter (sth) (into sth) to destroy sth completely, especially sb's feelings, hopes or beliefs; to be destroyed in this way :
[ vn ]
Anna's self-confidence had been completely shattered.
Her experience of divorce shattered her illusions about love.
[ v ]
My whole world shattered into a million pieces.
3.
[ vn ] to make sb feel extremely shocked and upset :
The unexpected death of their son shattered them.
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (in the sense scatter, disperse ): perhaps imitative; compare with scatter .