esquirla

Word: esquirla

Meaning in English:
The Spanish word "esquirla" refers to a small fragment or splinter, typically of a hard material such as metal, wood, glass, or rock. It is a piece that has broken off from a larger whole, usually as a result of impact or shattering.

Explanation:

• Etymology: "Esquirla" comes from the Latin word sciculum, related to "scira" (splinter).
• Parts: The word is used as a noun and is feminine in gender in Spanish (la esquirla).

Synonyms:

• Fragment (fragmento)
• Splinter (astilla)
• Shard (fragmento, pedazo)

Antonyms:

• Whole (entero, completo)
• Chunk (trozo grande)

Examples of use:

• "Una esquirla de vidrio cortó su mano." — A shard/splinter of glass cut his/her hand.
• "El casco del robot tenía muchas esquirlas tras la explosión." — The robot's helmet had many splinters/fragments after the explosion.

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Additional notes:
Sometimes, "esquirla" is used in a figurative or metaphorical sense to denote a remnant or small leftover part of something larger, but its most common use relates to small physical fragments following an impact or breakage.