Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - shatter

 I. verb  Etymology: Middle English schateren — more at scatter  Date: 14th century  transitive verb  1. to cause to drop or be dispersed  2.  a. to break at once into pieces  b. to damage badly ; ruin  3. to cause the disruption or annihilation of ; demolish  intransitive verb  1. to break apart ; disintegrate  2. to drop off parts (as leaves, petals, or fruit)  • ~ingly adverb  II. noun  Date: circa 1640  1. fragment, shred — usually used in plural the broken vase lay in ~s  2. an act of ~ing ; the state of being ~ed  3. a result of ~ing ; shower