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.
Phrases and idioms:
in ruins
1. in a state of ruin.
2 completely wrecked (their hopes were in ruins).
Etymology: ME f. OF ruine f. L ruina f. ruere fall