Ruin Definition

ro͝oĭn
ruined, ruining, ruins
noun
ruins
A falling down, as of a building, wall, etc.
Webster's New World
The remains of a fallen building, city, etc., or of something devastated, decayed, etc.
Webster's New World
The state of being extensively harmed or damaged.
Our vacation plans are in ruins.
American Heritage
The state of being destroyed, decayed, dilapidated, etc.
Webster's New World
Poverty of bankruptcy.
Their decision brought the bank to ruin.
American Heritage
verb
ruined, ruining, ruins
To cause (a building, for example) to be in a destroyed, collapsed, or decayed state.
American Heritage
To go or come to ruin.
Webster's New World
To harm or damage irreparably.
A bad diet ruined his health.
American Heritage
To bring or reduce to ruin.
Webster's New World

To destroy or make something no longer usable.

He ruined his new white slacks by accidentally spilling oil on them.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Ruin

Noun

Singular:
ruin
Plural:
ruins

Origin of Ruin

  • From Middle English ruine, from Old French ruine, from Latin ruÄ«na (“overthrow, ruin"), from ruō (“I fall down, tumble, sink in ruin, rush").

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English ruine from Old French from Latin ruīna from ruere to rush, collapse

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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