ruin

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   The remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle.

   • The Veian and the Gabian towirs shall fall, / And one promiscuous ruin cover all; / Nor, after length of years, a stone betray / The place where once the very ruins lay.
   • The labour of a day will not build up a virtuous habit on the ruins of an old and vicious character.
   • A canister of flour from the kitchen had been thrown at the looking-glass and lay like trampled snow over the remains of a decent blue suit with the lining ripped out which lay on top of the ruin of a plastic wardrobe.
2. 2

   The state of being a ruin, destroyed or decayed.

   • The monastery has fallen into ruin.
3. 3

   Something that leads to serious trouble or destruction.

   • Gambling has been the ruin of many.
   • The errors of young men are the ruin of business.
   • The Bat—they called him the Bat.[…]. He[…]played a lone hand,[…]. Most lone wolves had a moll at any rate—women were their ruin—but if the Bat had a moll, not even the grapevine telegraph could locate her.
4. ›+ 13 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      The act of ruining something.

   2. 5

      A fall or tumble.

      • His ruin startled th’ other steeds.
   3. 6

      A change that destroys or defeats something

      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
   4. 7

      Complete financial loss

      Complete financial loss; bankruptcy.

   5. 8

      To cause the fiscal ruin of

      To cause the fiscal ruin of; to bankrupt or drive out of business.

      • With all these purchases, you surely mean to ruin us!
      • In one way, indeed, he bade fair to ruin us; for he kept on staying week after week, and at last month after month, so that all the money had been long exhausted...
   6. 9

      To destroy or render something no longer usable or operable.

      • He ruined his new white slacks by accidentally spilling oil on them.
   7. 10

      To destroy (e.g. a city) so as to leave ruins.

      • By the fireside there are old men seated, / Seeing ruined cities in the ashes.
   8. 11

      To upset or overturn the plans or progress of, or to have a disastrous effect on…

      To upset or overturn the plans or progress of, or to have a disastrous effect on something.

      • My car breaking down just as I was on the road ruined my vacation.
   9. 12

      To make something less enjoyable or likeable.

      • I used to love that song, but being assaulted when that song was playing ruined the song for me.
   10. 13

       To make (someone) have a ruined orgasm.

   11. 14

       To reveal the ending of (a story)

       To reveal the ending of (a story); to spoil.

   12. 15

       To fall into a state of decay.

       • Though he his house of polisht marble build, / Yet shall it ruine like the Moth's fraile cell
   13. 16

       To seduce or debauch, and thus harm the social standing of.

       • The young libertine was notorious for ruining local girls.

The neighborhood

• neighborlife-ruining
• neighborruination
• neighborruinable
• neighborruiner
• neighborruinous
• neighborruint