- (n.) Such a change of anything as destroys it or entirely defeats its object or unfits it for use; destruction; overthrow; as, the ruin of a ship or an army; the ruin of a constitution or a government; the ruin of health or hopes.
- (n.) The act of falling or tumbling down; fall.
- (n.) That which promotes injury, decay or destruction.
- (v.i.) To fall to ruins; to go to ruin; to become decayed or dilapidated; to perish.
- (n.) The state of being dcayed or of having become ruined or worthless; as, to be in ruins; to go to ruin.
- (n.) That which is fallen down and become worthless from injury or decay; as, his mind is a ruin; especially, in the plural, the remains of a destroyed, dilapidated or desolate house, fortress, city or the like.
- (n.) To bring to ruin; to cause to fall to pieces and decay; to make to perish; to bring to destruction; to bring to poverty or bankruptcy; to impair seriously; to damage essentially; to overthrow.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). ruin. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/ruin/definitions/2056980 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "ruin" http://smartdefine.org/ruin/definitions/2056980 (accessed September 20, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, ruin, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/ruin/definitions/2056980>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "ruin" 28 May 2011. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/ruin/definitions/2056980> |