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ruin definition

ruin (ro̵̅o̅′ən)

noun

  1. Archaic a falling down, as of a building, wall, etc.
  2. the remains of a fallen building, city, etc., or of something devastated, decayed, etc.
    1. a destroyed or dilapidated building, town, etc.
    2. a person regarded as being physically, mentally, or morally a wreck of what he or she was
  4. the state of being destroyed, decayed, dilapidated, etc.
  5. downfall, destruction, devastation, etc.; specif.,
    1. complete loss of means, solvency, position, etc.
    2. moral downfall
    3. loss of chastity in a woman
  6. any cause of a person's downfall, destruction, etc. gambling was his ruin

Etymology: ME ruine < OFr < L ruina < ruere, to fall, hurl to the ground < IE *ereu- < base *er-, to set in motion, erect > run, rise

transitive verb

to bring or reduce to ruin; specif.,
  1. to destroy, spoil, or damage irreparably
  2. to impoverish or make bankrupt
  3. to deprive (a woman) of chastity

intransitive verb

to go or come to ruin

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms ruin idiom

ruin Synonyms

ruin

n.

  1. The act of destruction

    extinction, demolition, overthrow; see destruction 1, wreck 1.

  2. A building fallen into decay

    wreck, vestige, remains, rubble; see ruins, wreck 2.

  3. The state of destruction

    dilapidation, waste, wreck; see destruction 2. See syn. study at destruction.

ruin implies a state of decay, disintegration, etc. especially through such natural processes as age and weather the barn is in a state of ruin; destruction implies annihilation or demolition, as by fire, explosion, flood, etc. the destruction of the village in an air raid; havoc suggests total destruction or devastation, as following an earthquake or hurricane the storm wreaked havoc along the coast; dilapidation implies a state of ruin or shabbiness resulting from neglect the dilapidation of a deserted house


ruin

v.

  1. To destroy

    injure, overthrow, demolish; see destroy 1, ravage.

  2. To cause to become bankrupt

    impoverish, bankrupt, beggar, reduce, pauperize, fleece, make penniless, bring to destitution, bring to want, drain, exhaust, wreck, break, bust*, clean out*, cook one's goose*, do in*, do for*, wipe out*. *

    Antonyms help*, pay*, fund. *

  3. To destroy chastity

    rape, despoil, ravish; see rape.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

ruin Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • abbey: The gardens contain magnificent floral displays and impressive ruins of the abbey.

Object

  • abbey: Bad points: There's no added attractions here it's a ruined abbey, nothing more, nothing less.

Converse of object

  • crumble: The crumbling ruins of the castle remain as impressive as ever.

Adjective modifier

  • Mayan: The island's history ranges from Mayan ruins to pirates ' treasure.

Noun used with modifier

  • mayan: It's now used idyllic beach or mayan ruins of.
ruin usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

ruin quotes

Life's better with the Conservatives†don't let Labour ruin it.

-Anonymous

A ruinöyet what ruin! from its mass Walls, palaces, half-cities, have been reared.

-Rochdale

Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Oceanöroll! Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain; Man marks the earth with ruinöhis control Stops with the shore.

-Rochdale

ruin quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"ruin." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/ruin>

APA Style

ruin. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/ruin

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