/ English Dictionary |
RUIN
Pronunciation (US): | (GB): |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined
Synonyms:
laying waste; ruin; ruination; ruining; wrecking
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
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)
Derivation:
ruin (destroy completely; damage irreparably)
ruin (reduce to ruins)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Example:
they explored several Roman ruins
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
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)
Derivation:
ruin (fall into ruin)
ruin (reduce to ruins)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Failure that results in a loss of position or reputation
Synonyms:
downfall; ruin; ruination
Classified under:
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))
Derivation:
ruin (destroy or cause to fail)
Sense 4
Meaning:
An event that results in destruction
Synonyms:
ruin; ruination
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
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)
Derivation:
ruin (destroy completely; damage irreparably)
ruinous (extremely harmful; bringing physical or financial ruin)
Sense 5
Meaning:
The process of becoming dilapidated
Synonyms:
dilapidation; ruin
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural processes
Hypernyms ("ruin" is a kind of...):
decay (the process of gradually becoming inferior)
Derivation:
ruin (fall into ruin)
Sense 6
Meaning:
An irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
Example:
you have brought ruin on this entire family
Synonyms:
ruin; ruination
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("ruin" is a kind of...):
desolation; devastation (the state of being decayed or destroyed)
Derivation:
ruin (destroy completely; damage irreparably)
ruinous (extremely harmful; bringing physical or financial ruin)
II. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "ruin" is one way to...):
crumble; decay; dilapidate (fall into decay or ruin)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Derivation:
ruin (a ruined building)
ruin (the process of becoming dilapidated)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Example:
This dirty old man deflowered several young girls in the village
Synonyms:
deflower; ruin
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "ruin" is one way to...):
copulate; couple; mate; pair (engage in sexual intercourse)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody
Sense 3
Meaning:
Destroy completely; damage irreparably
Example:
The tears ruined her make-up
Synonyms:
destroy; ruin
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ruin"):
wash out (wear or destroy by the force of water)
kick down; kick in (open violently)
bust up; wrack; wreck (smash or break forcefully)
shipwreck (destroy a ship)
consume (destroy completely)
explode (destroy by exploding)
despoil; plunder; rape; spoil; violate (destroy and strip of its possession)
devour (destroy completely)
get (overcome or destroy)
subvert (destroy completely)
do a job on (destroy completely or make ugly or useless)
vandalise; vandalize (destroy wantonly, as through acts of vandalism)
break (find a flaw in)
harry; ravage (make a pillaging or destructive raid on (a place), as in wartimes)
desolate; devastate; lay waste to; ravage; scourge; waste (cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly)
burn; burn down; fire (destroy by fire)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
ruining (destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined)
ruiner (a person who destroys or ruins or lays waste to)
ruination (destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined)
ruin (an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction)
ruin (an event that results in destruction)
ruin (destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Example:
The country lay ruined after the war
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "ruin" is one way to...):
desolate; devastate; lay waste to; ravage; scourge; waste (cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Derivation:
ruin (destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined)
ruin (a ruined building)
ruination (an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction)
ruiner (a person who destroys or ruins or lays waste to)
ruining (destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Example:
The slump in the financial markets smashed him
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "ruin" is one way to...):
impoverish (make poor)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Sense 6
Meaning:
Example:
This behavior will ruin your chances of winning the election
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
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
Derivation:
ruin (failure that results in a loss of position or reputation)
ruiner (a person who destroys or ruins or lays waste to)
Context examples:
I answered that it had ceased to be a private matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was national property.
(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
You are determined to ruin him in the opinion of all his friends, and make him the contempt of the world.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
I do not like ruined, tattered cottages.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
It was unfortunately lost with so much else in the same boat accident which ruined my photographs.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
It caught in the window, the tower tottered, leaned forward, fell with a crash, and buried the unhappy lovers in the ruins.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
Ah, cospetto! we are ruined and destroyed!
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
He have done this alone; all alone! from a ruin tomb in a forgotten land.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
If all took place that might take place among the circle of her friends, Hartfield must be comparatively deserted; and she left to cheer her father with the spirits only of ruined happiness.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
As I followed him, I noted that in spite of rack and ruin a rough order obtained.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Neither the dissipations of the past—and she had lived very much in the world—nor the restrictions of the present, neither sickness nor sorrow seemed to have closed her heart or ruined her spirits.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)