RUIN

Pronunciation (US):

• RUIN (noun)
  The noun RUIN has 6 senses:

1. an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
2. a ruined building
3. the process of becoming dilapidated
4. an event that results in destruction
5. failure that results in a loss of position or reputation
6. destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined

  Familiarity information: RUIN used as a noun is common.

• RUIN (verb)
  The verb RUIN has 6 senses:

1. destroy completely; damage irreparably
2. destroy or cause to fail
3. reduce to bankruptcy
4. reduce to ruins
5. deprive of virginity
6. fall into ruin

  Familiarity information: RUIN used as a verb is common.

• RUIN (noun)

Meaning:

An irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

ruination; ruin

Context example:

you have brought ruin on this entire family

Hypernyms ("ruin" is a kind of...):

desolation; devastation (the state of being decayed or destroyed)

Meaning:

A ruined building

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

they explored several Roman ruins

Hypernyms ("ruin" is a kind of...):

building; edifice (a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place)

Meaning:

The process of becoming dilapidated

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

dilapidation; ruin

Hypernyms ("ruin" is a kind of...):

decay (the process of gradually becoming inferior)

Meaning:

An event that results in destruction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

ruination; ruin

Hypernyms ("ruin" is a kind of...):

demolition; destruction; wipeout (an event (or the result of an event) that completely destroys something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ruin"):

desolation; devastation (an event that results in total destruction)

shipwreck (an irretrievable loss)

Meaning:

Failure that results in a loss of position or reputation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

downfall; ruination; ruin

Hypernyms ("ruin" is a kind of...):

failure (an event that does not accomplish its intended purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ruin"):

finish (the downfall of someone (as of persons on one side of a conflict))

Meaning:

Destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

laying waste; ruining; wrecking; ruination; ruin

Hypernyms ("ruin" is a kind of...):

destruction; devastation (the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists)

• RUIN (verb)

Meaning:

Destroy completely; damage irreparably

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

ruin; destroy

Context examples:

You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank! / The tears ruined her make-up

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ruin"):

despoil; plunder; rape; spoil; violate (destroy and strip of its possession)

explode (destroy by exploding)

consume (destroy completely)

shipwreck (destroy a ship)

bust up; wrack; wreck (smash or break forcefully)

kick down; kick in (open violently)

wash out (wear or destroy by the force of water)

devour (destroy completely)

get (overcome or destroy)

subvert (destroy completely)

burn; burn down; fire (destroy by fire)

desolate; devastate; lay waste to; ravage; scourge; waste (devastate or ravage)

harry; ravage (make a pillaging or destructive raid on (a place), as in wartimes)

break (find a flaw in)

break; bust (ruin completely)

vandalise; vandalize (destroy wantonly, as through acts of vandalism)

do a job on (destroy completely or make ugly or useless)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Meaning:

Destroy or cause to fail

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

This behavior will ruin your chances of winning the election

Hypernyms (to "ruin" is one way to...):

baffle; bilk; cross; foil; frustrate; queer; scotch; spoil; thwart (hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ruin"):

undo (cause the ruin or downfall of)

break (cause the failure or ruin of)

shipwreck (ruin utterly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Meaning:

Reduce to bankruptcy

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

bankrupt; ruin; smash; break

Context examples:

My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me! / The slump in the financial markets smashed him

Hypernyms (to "ruin" is one way to...):

impoverish (make poor)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Meaning:

Reduce to ruins

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

The country lay ruined after the war

Hypernyms (to "ruin" is one way to...):

desolate; devastate; lay waste to; ravage; scourge; waste (devastate or ravage)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Meaning:

Deprive of virginity

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

deflower; ruin

Context example:

This dirty old man deflowered several young girls in the village

Hypernyms (to "ruin" is one way to...):

copulate; couple; mate; pair (make love)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Meaning:

Fall into ruin

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "ruin" is one way to...):

crumble; decay; delapidate (fall into decay or ruin)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s