ruin: Meaning and Definition of

ru•in

1. the remains of a building, city, etc., that has been destroyed or that is in disrepair or a state of decay: We visited the ruins of ancient Greece.
2. a destroyed or decayed building, town, etc.
3. a fallen, wrecked, or decayed condition: The building fell to ruin.
4. the downfall, decay, or destruction of anything.
5. the complete loss of health, means, position, hope, or the like.
6. something that causes a downfall or destruction; blight: Alcohol was his ruin.
7. the downfall of a person; undoing: the ruin of Oedipus.
8. a person as the wreck of his or her former self; ravaged individual.
9. the act of causing destruction or a downfall.

1. to reduce to ruin; devastate.
2. to bring (a person, company, etc.) to financial ruin; bankrupt.
3. to injure (a thing) irretrievably.
4. to induce (a woman) to surrender her virginity; deflower.

1. to fall into ruins; fall to pieces.
2. to come to ruin.