'Ruin' definitions:

Definition of 'ruin'

From: WordNet
noun
An irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction; "you have brought ruin on this entire family" [syn: ruin, ruination]
noun
A ruined building; "they explored several Roman ruins"
noun
The process of becoming dilapidated [syn: dilapidation, ruin]
noun
An event that results in destruction [syn: ruin, ruination]
noun
Failure that results in a loss of position or reputation [syn: downfall, ruin, ruination]
noun
Destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined [syn: laying waste, ruin, ruining, ruination, wrecking]
verb
Destroy completely; damage irreparably; "You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!"; "The tears ruined her make-up" [syn: destroy, ruin]
verb
Destroy or cause to fail; "This behavior will ruin your chances of winning the election"
verb
Reduce to bankruptcy; "My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!"; "The slump in the financial markets smashed him" [syn: bankrupt, ruin, break, smash]
verb
Reduce to ruins; "The country lay ruined after the war"
verb
Deprive of virginity; "This dirty old man deflowered several young girls in the village" [syn: deflower, ruin]
verb
Fall into ruin

Definition of 'Ruin'

From: GCIDE
  • Ruin \Ru"in\, n. [OE. ruine, F. ruine, fr. L. ruina, fr. ruere, rutum, to fall with violence, to rush or tumble down.]
  • 1. The act of falling or tumbling down; fall. [Obs.] "His ruin startled the other steeds." --Chapman. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Such a change of anything as destroys it, or entirely defeats its object, or unfits it for use; destruction; overthrow; as, the ruin of a ship or an army; the ruin of a constitution or a government; the ruin of health or hopes. "Ruin seize thee, ruthless king!" --Gray. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. That which is fallen down and become worthless from injury or decay; as, his mind is a ruin; especially, in the plural, the remains of a destroyed, dilapidated, or desolate house, fortress, city, or the like. [1913 Webster]
  • The Veian and the Gabian towers shall fall, And one promiscuous ruin cover all; Nor, after length of years, a stone betray The place where once the very ruins lay. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
  • The labor of a day will not build up a virtuous habit on the ruins of an old and vicious character. --Buckminster. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. The state of being dcayed, or of having become ruined or worthless; as, to be in ruins; to go to ruin. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. That which promotes injury, decay, or destruction. [1913 Webster]
  • The errors of young men are the ruin of business. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
  • Syn: Destruction; downfall; perdition; fall; overthrow; subversion; defeat; bane; pest; mischief. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Ruin'

From: GCIDE
  • Ruin \Ru"in\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ruined;p. pr. & vb. n. Ruining.] [Cf. F. ruiner, LL. ruinare. See Ruin, n.] To bring to ruin; to cause to fall to pieces and decay; to make to perish; to bring to destruction; to bring to poverty or bankruptcy; to impair seriously; to damage essentially; to overthrow. [1913 Webster]
  • this mortal house I'll ruin. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • By thee raised, I ruin all my foes. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • The eyes of other people are the eyes that ruin us. --Franklin. [1913 Webster]
  • By the fireside there are old men seated, Seeling ruined cities in the ashes. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Ruin'

From: GCIDE
  • Ruin \Ru"in\, v. i. To fall to ruins; to go to ruin; to become decayed or dilapidated; to perish. [R.] [1913 Webster]
  • Though he his house of polished marble build, Yet shall it ruin like the moth's frail cell. --Sandys. [1913 Webster]
  • If we are idle, and disturb the industrious in their business, we shall ruin the faster. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'ruin'

From: Moby Thesaurus