ruɪn n. & v. --n. 1 a destroyed or wrecked
state. 2 a person's or thing's
downfall or elimination (the ruin of my hopes). 3 a
the complete loss of one's
property or
position (bring to ruin). b a
person who has suffered ruin. 4 (in
sing. or pl.) the
remains of a
building etc.
that has suffered ruin (an
old ruin; ancient ruins). 5 a
cause of ruin (will be the ruin of us). --v. 1 tr. a
bring to ruin (your
extravagance has ruined me). b utterly
impair or
wreck (the
rain ruined my hat). 2 tr. (esp. as ruined adj.)
reduce to ruins. 3 intr.
poet.
fall headlong or
with a crash. øin ruins 1 in a state of ruin. 2 completely wrecked (their hopes
were in ruins). [ME f. OF ruine f. L ruina f. ruere fall]