■ noun
1》 the destruction of a ship at sea; a ship~.
↘a ship destroyed in such a way.
↘ Law goods brought ashore by the sea from a ~.
2》 a building, vehicle, etc. that has been destroyed or badly damaged.
↘ N. Amer. a road or rail crash.
3》 a person whose physical or mental health or strength has failed: an emotional ~.
■ verb
1》 cause the destruction of (a ship) by sinking or breaking up.
↘[as noun ~ing ] chiefly historical the practice of destroying a ship in order to steal the cargo.
↘ archaic suffer or undergo ship~.
2》 destroy or severely damage.
↘spoil completely: the eye injury ~ed his chances.
3》 [usu. as noun ~ing ] chiefly N. Amer. engage in breaking up badly damaged vehicles or demolishing old buildings to obtain usable spares or scrap.
Origin
ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. wrec , from the base of ON reka 'to drive'; related to wreak .