ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ruin

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɹuən// UK //ɹˈuːɪn// ru·in Archaic General-service

n. the state of being destroyed or losing all your money. It can also mean the broken remains of an old building.

n. the physical destruction or disintegration of something, or the state of being decayed. Often refers to the complete loss of one's fortune, social standing, or health.


SIMPLE

The heavy rain brought ruin to the farmers' crops.

CONTEXTUAL

After the stock market crashed, many investors faced total financial ruin and had to sell their homes.

COMPLEX

The ivy-covered ruin of the medieval chapel stood as a silent witness to the centuries of history that had passed through the valley.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English ruyne, ruine, from Old French ruine, from Latin ruīna (“overthrow, ruin”), from ruō (“to fall down, tumble, sink in ruin, rush”).

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the state of destruction or financial failure; countable when referring to the physical remains of a building, usually in the plural form 'ruins'.

Idioms2 entries

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