| ruin | |
| 1. n. (sometimes in the plural) The remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle. | |
| 2. n. The state of being a ruin, destroyed or decayed. | |
| The monastery has fallen into ruin. | |
| 3. n. Something that leads to serious trouble or destruction. | |
| Gambling has been the ruin of many. | |
| 4. n. (obsolete) A fall or tumble. | |
| 5. n. A change that destroys or defeats something; destruction; overthrow. | |
| the ruin of a ship or an army; the ruin of a constitution or a government; the ruin of health or hopes | |
| 6. n. Complete financial loss; bankruptcy. | |
| 7. v. to cause the fiscal ruin of. | |
| With all these purchases, you surely mean to ruin us! | |
| 8. v. To destroy or make something no longer usable. | |
| He ruined his new white slacks by accidentally spilling oil on them. | |
| 9. v. To cause severe financial loss to; to bankrupt or drive out of business. | |
| The crooked stockbroker's fraudulent scheme ruined dozens of victims; some investors lost their life savings and even their houses. | |
| 10. v. To upset or overturn the plans or progress of, or to put into disarray; to spoil. | |
| My car breaking down just as I was on the road ruined my vacation. | |
| 11. v. To reveal the ending of (a story); to spoil. | |
| 12. v. (obsolete) To fall into a state of destruction. | |
