ruin
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ruin (ro̵̅o̅′ən)
noun
- Archaic a falling down, as of a building, wall, etc.
- the remains of a fallen building, city, etc., or of something devastated, decayed, etc.
- a destroyed or dilapidated building, town, etc.
- a person regarded as being physically, mentally, or morally a wreck of what he or she was
- the state of being destroyed, decayed, dilapidated, etc.
- downfall, destruction, devastation, etc.; specif.,
- complete loss of means, solvency, position, etc.
- moral downfall
- loss of chastity in a woman
- 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 destroy, spoil, or damage irreparably
- to impoverish or make bankrupt
- to deprive (a woman) of chastity
intransitive verb
Related Forms:
- ruiner ru′·iner noun
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Alternate definitions:
ruin
n.
The act of destruction
extinction, demolition, overthrow; see destruction 1, wreck 1.A building fallen into decay
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.
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.
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.
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.
Life's better with the Conservativesdon't let Labour ruin it.
A ruinöyet what ruin! from its mass Walls, palaces, half-cities, have been reared.
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.
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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