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1. Dictionary

   ruin

   /ˈruːɪn/

   noun

   • 1. the physical destruction or disintegration of something or the state of disintegrating or being destroyed: "a large white house falling into gentle ruin" Similar disintegrationdecaydisrepairdilapidationfalling to piecesdecrepituderuinationdestructiondevastationdamagedemolitionwreckageOpposite reconstructionpreservation
   • ▪ the remains of a building, typically an old one that has suffered much damage or disintegration: "the ruins of the castle" Similar remainsremnantsfragmentsrelicsremainderrubbledebrisdetrituswreckagewreck
   • ▪ the disastrous disintegration of someone's life: "the ruin and heartbreak wrought by alcohol, divorce, and violence" Similar bankruptcyinsolvencypenurypovertydestitutionimpoverishmentindigencebeggaryfinancial failuredisastercatastrophecalamityrare:pauperismpauperdommendicityOpposite wealthsuccess
   • ▪ the complete loss of one's money and other assets: "the financial cost could mean ruin" Similar bankruptcyinsolvencypenurypovertydestitutionimpoverishmentindigencebeggaryfinancial failuredisastercatastrophecalamityrare:pauperismpauperdommendicityOpposite wealthsuccess
   • ▪ something that causes the disintegration of a person's life or the complete loss of their assets: "they don't know how to say no, and that's been their ruin"

   verb

   • 1. reduce (a building or place) to a state of decay, collapse, or disintegration: "the castle was ruined when dynamite was used to demolish one of the corner towers" Similar destroydevastatelay wasteleave in ruinswreak havoc onravageleave desolaterazedemolishblastwreckwipe outflattenlevelcrusharchaic:wasteOpposite rebuildrepair
   • ▪ cause great and usually irreparable damage or harm to; have a disastrous effect on: "a noisy motorway has ruined village life" Similar wreckdestroydevastatewreak havoc onreduce to nothingdamagespoilmarinjureblastblightsmashshatterdashtorpedoscotchmake a mess ofmess upsabotagepoisoninformal:louse upscrew upfoul upput the kibosh onbanjaxdo forblow a hole innixqueerscuppercock updishmullereuchrecruelvulgar slang:fuck uparchaic:bring to naughtOpposite restoresave
   • ▪ reduce to a state of poverty: "they were ruined by the highest interest rates this century" Similar bankruptmake bankruptcause to go bankruptmake insolventimpoverishreduce to penury/destitutionbring to ruinbring someone to their kneeswipe outbreakcripplerare:pauperizebeggar
   • 2. fall headlong or with a crash: literary "carriages go ruining over the brink from time to time"

   Word Origin Middle English (in the sense ‘collapse of a building’): from Old French ruine, from Latin ruina, from ruere ‘to fall’.

   Scrabble Points: 4

   • R

     1

   • U

     1

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishRUIN | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   to spoil something severely or destroy it: Huge modern hotels are ruining this once unspoilt coastline. His frequent lateness has ruined his chances for a promotion. to cause a person or company to lose all their money or their reputation: Cheap imported goods are ruining many businesses.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › ruinRuin Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › ruin

   • Cached

   The meaning of RUIN is to damage irreparably. How to use ruin in a sentence. to damage irreparably; bankrupt, impoverish; to subject to frustration, failure, or disaster…

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryRUIN | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   to spoil something severely or destroy it: Huge modern hotels are ruining this once unspoilt coastline. His frequent lateness has ruined his chances for a promotion. to cause a person or company to lose all their money or their reputation: Cheap imported goods are ruining many businesses.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishRUIN definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   1. a destroyed or decayed building or town. 2. the state or condition of being destroyed or decayed. 3. loss of wealth, position, etc, or something that causes such loss; downfall. 4. something that is severely damaged. his life was a ruin.

6. www.dictionary.com › browse › ruinRUIN Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › ruin

   • Cached

   the act of causing destruction or a downfall. verb (used with object) to reduce to a fallen, wrecked, or decayed condition; devastate. Synonyms: damage, destroy, demolish. to bring (a person, company, etc.) to financial destruction; bankrupt. to damage, spoil, or injure (a thing) irretrievably:

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishRUIN | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   RUIN definition: 1. to spoil or destroy something: 2. to cause someone to lose all their money or their job: 3…. Learn more.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › ruinRuin - definition of ruin by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › ruin

   • Cached

   1. a destroyed or decayed building or town. 2. the state or condition of being destroyed or decayed. 3. loss of wealth, position, etc, or something that causes such loss; downfall. 4. something that is severely damaged: his life was a ruin. 5. a person who has suffered a downfall, bankruptcy, etc.