ruin

noun

/ˈruː.ɪn/

Definition

› [U] the process or state of being spoiled or destroyed: The car accident meant the ruin of all her hopes. They let the palace fall into ruin.Damaging and spoilingDestroying and demolishing C2 [U] a situation in which a person or company has lost all their money or their reputation: Many companies are on the edge/brink/verge of ruin. Alcohol was my ruin (= the thing that spoiled my life)Poverty and poorHumiliating and degrading B1 [C] the broken parts that are left from an old building or town: We visited a Roman ruin. the ruins of the ancient city of CarthageThings remaining be/lie in ruins › (of a building or city) to be extremely badly damaged so that most of it has fallen down: The town lay in ruins after years of bombing.In bad condition C1 to be in an extremely bad state: The economy was in ruins after the war.In bad condition

(Definition of ruin noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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