Shard: meaning, definitions and examples

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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