1.
[syn: smashing, shattering]
ADJECTIVE (1)
1. seemingly loud enough to break something; violently rattling or clattering;
- Example: "shattering rain striking the windowpanes"
- Example: "the shattering tones of the enormous carillon"
- Example: "the shattering peal of artillery"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.
[1913 Webster]
A monarchy was shattered to pieces, and divided
amongst revolted subjects. --Locke.
[1913 Webster]
2. To disorder; to derange; to render unsound; as, to be
shattered in intellect; his constitution was shattered;
his hopes were shattered.
[1913 Webster]
A man of a loose, volatile, and shattered humor.
--Norris.
[1913 Webster]
3. To scatter about. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year.
--Milton.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
shattering
adj 1: seemingly loud enough to break something; violently
rattling or clattering; "shattering rain striking the
windowpanes"; "the shattering tones of the enormous
carillon"; "the shattering peal of artillery"
n 1: the act of breaking something into small pieces [syn:
smashing, shattering]