wreck
n. · v.-
1 destroyed vehicle or ship (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatethe remains of a car, ship, or plane that has been badly damaged in an accident.
the physical remains of a vehicle, aircraft, or marine vessel that has been destroyed by collision or environmental forces.
ExampleDivers found the wreck of an old wooden ship at the bottom of the sea.
ExampleThe rusted wreck of the freighter remained on the reef for decades, serving as a grim reminder of the treacherous coastal currents.
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2 a crash or collision (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate American Englishan accident where a vehicle hits something and is badly damaged.
an event involving a violent collision or the destruction of a vehicle.
ExampleLuckily, no one was seriously hurt in the car wreck on the highway.
ExampleThe multi-car wreck blocked all three lanes of the interstate, resulting in a massive traffic jam that lasted several hours.
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3 an exhausted or broken person (n.) C1 Advanced Informalsomeone who is in very poor physical or mental condition, often because they are tired or stressed.
a person who has suffered a physical or emotional breakdown; often used to describe extreme exhaustion.
ExampleAfter working sixteen hours straight, I was a total wreck.
ExampleBy the end of the trial, the witness was a nervous wreck, barely able to answer the prosecutor's questions without trembling.
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4 to destroy or ruin (v.) B2 Upper Intermediateto damage something so badly that it cannot be used, or to spoil a plan or situation.
to cause the destruction of a physical object or to frustrate a plan or ambition entirely.
ExampleThe heavy rain threatened to wreck our plans for a picnic in the park.
ExampleThe scandal threatened to wreck his political career just as he was preparing to announce his candidacy for the senate.
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5 to dismantle for parts (v.) C2 Proficiency Dialect American Englishto take apart a damaged car or machine to save the parts that still work.
to dismantle a damaged vehicle or piece of machinery for the purpose of reclaiming salvageable components.
ExampleHe spent the weekend wrecking an old truck to find a working engine.
ExampleThe business specialised in wrecking late-model European cars, supplying rare spare parts to mechanics across the state.
UsageCommonly used in the context of 'wrecking yards' or 'auto wreckers'.
From Middle English wrek, from Anglo-Norman wrek, from Old Norse wrek (Norwegian and Icelandic rek, Swedish vrak, Danish vrag), from Proto-Germanic wrekaną, whence also Old English wrecan (English wreak), Old High German rehhan, Old Saxon wrekan, Gothic 𐍅𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽 (wrikan).