Shard: meaning, definitions and examples

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shard

[ʃɑːd ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in geology

A piece of broken ceramic, metal, glass, or rock, typically having sharp edges.

Synonyms

fragment, piece, splinter.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
shard	Typically refers to a small, sharp piece of glass, metal, or other brittle material. Often used in situations involving breakage. He stepped on a shard of glass and cut his foot. The vase fell and shattered into hundreds of shards.
fragment	Usually denotes a small part broken off or detached from something larger. It can be used in both physical and abstract contexts. They found a fragment of the ancient pottery at the archaeological site. The poem was published as a fragment of his unfinished work.
piece	General term for a part of something. Can apply to various contexts including physical objects, abstract concepts, and artistic works. She gave me a piece of chocolate. The puzzle is missing a piece.
splinter	Specifically refers to a small, thin, sharp piece of wood, metal, or other material that breaks off from a larger piece. Often associated with pain or discomfort. I got a splinter in my finger from the wooden bench. The carpenter carefully removed the splinter from the plank.

Examples of usage

The archaeologist found several ancient pottery shards at the excavation site.
Careful, there are glass shards on the floor.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

in gaming

A unit of health or energy in a video game that can be collected or lost.

Synonyms

energy unit, health point, life point.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
shard	Typically used in fantasy or sci-fi settings to describe a piece of something that has been broken or a fragment of a larger whole. This term often implies something mystical or precious. He picked up a shard of the enchanted crystal The broken shard of the ancient sword still held some magic power
health point	Often used in gaming contexts to indicate a numerical measurement of a character's remaining health. When the health points reach zero, the character typically loses a life or is incapacitated. He took some damage and lost 30 health points The potion restores 100 health points, making it very valuable during battles
energy unit	Commonly used in scientific or technological contexts to denote a quantifiable measure of energy, often in discussions of power supply, mechanics, or gaming mechanics involving resources. The robot requires at least 50 energy units to function properly In this game, you can collect energy units to power up your character
life point	Another term frequently seen in games, similar to 'health point'. It refers to the well-being or vitality of a character. It might also be used in card games or board games to symbolize a player's remaining chances. If you lose all your life points, you will need to restart the level She used a special card to regain 20 life points and continued the game

Examples of usage

Collecting the blue shards will restore your character's health.
Be careful not to lose all your shards before reaching the final boss.

^{Context #3 | Verb}

in gaming

To gain or lose a unit of health or energy in a video game.

Synonyms

collect, gain, lose.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
shard	Often used to describe a broken piece of a brittle object, usually glass or ceramic. She carefully picked up the shard of glass from the floor The vase fell and broke into many shards
gain	Used when acquiring something valuable, such as knowledge, experience, or an advantage. She worked hard to gain the trust of her colleagues He managed to gain a lot of experience during his internship
lose	Used when someone no longer has something that they previously possessed; can describe both tangible and intangible losses. I think I am going to lose my keys He stood to lose everything in the financial crisis
collect	Used when gathering items or elements together, often as a hobby or for a specific purpose. He loves to collect stamps from different countries They decided to collect donations for the charity event

Examples of usage

If you get hit by the enemy, you will shard some health.
Make sure to shard wisely to survive the level.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'shard' comes from Old English 'sceard', which means 'to cut' or 'to divide'.
It is related to the Old High German word 'scharo' and Dutch 'scherven', both of which refer to a broken piece.
The term has been used in English since the 13th century.

Literature

In literature, a 'shard' can symbolize brokenness or fragmentation, often reflecting a character’s emotional state.
Famous author H.P. Lovecraft mentioned 'shards' in his eerie tales, emphasizing their sharpness both literally and metaphorically.
The use of 'shard' in poetry often evokes imagery of destruction and loss, helping to convey deep emotions.

Art and Design

Many artists use 'shards' of glass or ceramics in mosaic art, turning fragments into beautiful designs.
Contemporary designers sometimes use the concept of 'shards' to create modern sculpture by assembling broken pieces in innovative ways.
In the field of stained glass, shards are carefully arranged to create colorful works that tell stories.

Science

In archaeology, 'shards' of pottery can provide insights into ancient cultures and their daily lives.
Glass shards found at archaeological sites help researchers date events and understand past human behavior.
In geology, shard-like fragments of rock can indicate past volcanic activity or the impact of meteorites.

Pop Culture

In popular video games, characters often encounter 'shards' as collectible items, symbolizing power or achievements.
Film directors use imagery of shattered glass or shards to enhance dramatic tension in action scenes.
The concept of 'shards' appears in fantasy series, where they are often fragments of magical objects or realms.

Translations

Translations of the word "shard" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fragmento

🇮🇳 टुकड़ा

🇩🇪 Scherbe

🇮🇩 pecahan

🇺🇦 уламок

🇵🇱 odłamek

🇯🇵 破片 (はへん)

🇫🇷 éclat

🇪🇸 fragmento

🇹🇷 parça

🇰🇷 조각

🇸🇦 شظية

🇨🇿 střep

🇸🇰 črep

🇨🇳 碎片 (suìpiàn)

🇸🇮 drobec

🇮🇸 brot

🇰🇿 сынық

🇬🇪 ნამსხვრევი

🇦🇿 parça

🇲🇽 fragmento

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,002 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

...
30999 eddying
31000 orgasmic
31001 convalescents
31002 shard
31003 circumlocution
31004 atavistic
31005 spearing
...