Shard

Noun

Definition: A piece of broken pottery or glass.

Synonyms: Fragment, Piece, Splinter

Antonyms: Whole, Intact, Complete

Examples:

She carefully picked up the sharp shard of glass.
The archaeologists discovered ancient pottery shards in the excavation site.

Mnemonics:

Imagine the word "shard" sounds like "sharp," which can help you associate it with broken glass.

Etymology:

Origin:

Middle English 'scherd', from Old English 'sceard'; related to Dutch 'scherf' and German 'Schärbe'.

Historical Usage:

The word has been used since Old English times to refer to fragments or pieces of broken objects, particularly pottery or glass.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Pick up the shards"

Explanation:

This phrase is used metaphorically to mean dealing with the aftermath or consequences of a broken relationship, situation, or problem. It suggests the need to collect and handle the fragmented pieces for healing or resolution.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Confusing "shard" with "shred" or "sherd"

Explanation:

While "shard" is specifically used to refer to a broken piece of pottery or glass, "shred" refers to a small, narrow strip or piece of something, and "sherd" specifically refers to a broken piece of pottery.