ruin
To damage something so badly that it cannot be repaired or made whole again. It can also mean to destroy or spoil something, like a plan or a person's reputation.
Use 'ruin' when something is damaged so severely that it is likely beyond repair or completely spoiled.
واژه در 30 ثانیه
- To damage something beyond repair.
- Can refer to physical objects or abstract ideas.
- Implies destruction or severe loss.
Summary
Use 'ruin' when something is damaged so severely that it is likely beyond repair or completely spoiled.
- To damage something beyond repair.
- Can refer to physical objects or abstract ideas.
- Implies destruction or severe loss.
Think 'beyond repair'
When you hear 'ruin', imagine something broken so badly that it can't be fixed. This helps capture the severity of the word.
Avoid overuse for minor issues
While common in informal speech, try not to use 'ruin' for very small problems. 'Damage' or 'affect' might be more appropriate for less severe situations.
Historical ruins evoke the past
Visiting historical ruins allows us to connect with history and imagine life in past civilizations, highlighting the lasting impact of time and events.
مثالها
4 از 4The strong winds threatened to ruin the outdoor wedding ceremony.
Decades of neglect had left the ancient monument in ruins.
Don't let one bad grade ruin your whole semester!
The economic downturn threatened to ruin small businesses across the region.
خانواده کلمه
راهنمای حفظ
Imagine a building crumbling into 'ruins' after a disaster. This visual links the word to severe destruction and decay.
**Overview**
The word 'ruin' describes a state of extreme damage or destruction. When something is ruined, it is often beyond repair, implying a loss of its original form, function, or value. It can refer to physical objects, abstract concepts like plans or reputations, and even emotional states.
**Usage Patterns**
As a verb, 'ruin' is often followed by a direct object, indicating what is being damaged. For example, 'The flood ruined their home.' It can also be used in passive voice, such as 'The ancient temple was ruined by time.' In its noun form, 'ruins' typically refers to the remains of something that has been destroyed, like old buildings.
**Common Contexts**
'Ruin' is frequently used when discussing natural disasters (e.g., 'earthquakes ruin cities'), accidents (e.g., 'a car crash can ruin an engine'), or deliberate acts of destruction (e.g., 'vandalism ruined the park'). It's also common in discussions about personal failures or disappointments (e.g., 'His mistake ruined his chances of promotion') and in contexts of decay and neglect (e.g., 'The old building is in ruins').
**Similar Words Comparison**:
- Destroy: 'Destroy' is a very strong synonym, often implying complete annihilation. While 'ruin' suggests severe damage, 'destroy' can mean to obliterate entirely. For instance, a bomb might destroy a building, while a fire might ruin its interior.
- Damage: 'Damage' is a broader term and can refer to less severe harm. Something can be damaged without being completely ruined. A scratch on a car is damage, but the car is not ruined.
- Spoil: 'Spoil' often refers to making something unpleasant or less enjoyable, particularly food or plans. 'The rain spoiled our picnic' is similar to 'The rain ruined our picnic,' but 'spoil' might imply a lesser degree of destruction than 'ruin.'
نکات کاربردی
The verb 'ruin' implies a significant level of destruction. While it can be used informally for minor issues (e.g., 'You're ruining my appetite'), it's often associated with more serious consequences. The noun form 'ruins' specifically refers to the remains of destroyed structures.
اشتباهات رایج
Learners sometimes use 'ruin' when 'damage' or 'affect' would be more precise for less severe harm. Also, remember that 'ruins' is typically plural when referring to the remains of buildings.
راهنمای حفظ
Imagine a building crumbling into 'ruins' after a disaster. This visual links the word to severe destruction and decay.
ریشه کلمه
The word 'ruin' comes from the Latin word 'ruina', meaning 'a fall, downfall, or collapse'. This origin clearly connects to the idea of something falling apart or collapsing.
بافت فرهنگی
The concept of ruins is significant in history and archaeology, representing lost civilizations and the passage of time. Many cultures have famous historical ruins that are important tourist attractions and symbols of their heritage.
مثالها
The strong winds threatened to ruin the outdoor wedding ceremony.
everydayDecades of neglect had left the ancient monument in ruins.
formalDon't let one bad grade ruin your whole semester!
informalThe economic downturn threatened to ruin small businesses across the region.
academicخانواده کلمه
ترکیبهای رایج
عبارات رایج
go to ruin
bring to ruin
the ruin of
اغلب اشتباه گرفته میشود با
'Damage' refers to any harm done, and the object may still be functional or repairable. 'Ruin' implies severe, often irreparable harm, rendering something useless or destroyed.
'Destroy' often implies complete obliteration or annihilation. 'Ruin' suggests severe damage that makes something unusable, but not necessarily erased from existence entirely.
الگوهای دستوری
Think 'beyond repair'
When you hear 'ruin', imagine something broken so badly that it can't be fixed. This helps capture the severity of the word.
Avoid overuse for minor issues
While common in informal speech, try not to use 'ruin' for very small problems. 'Damage' or 'affect' might be more appropriate for less severe situations.
Historical ruins evoke the past
Visiting historical ruins allows us to connect with history and imagine life in past civilizations, highlighting the lasting impact of time and events.
خودت رو بسنج
Complete the sentence by choosing the best word.
The heavy rain completely ___ our plans for a picnic in the park.
The word 'ruined' fits because the rain spoiled the plans, making them impossible to carry out.
Choose the sentence that correctly uses the word 'ruin'.
Which sentence best describes something being ruined?
Sentence B uses 'ruins' as a noun to describe the remains of a destroyed structure, fitting the meaning of severe damage.
Arrange the words to form a grammatically correct sentence using 'ruin'.
plans / his / mistake / ruined / the
This sentence correctly identifies the subject ('His mistake') and the object ('the plans') and uses the verb 'ruined' appropriately.
امتیاز: /3
سوالات متداول
4 سوالNo, 'ruin' can also be used figuratively. You can ruin someone's reputation, ruin someone's day, or ruin a plan. In these cases, it means to spoil or destroy the positive aspects of something non-physical.
'Damage' is a more general term for harm, and the item might still be usable or repairable. 'Ruin' implies a much more severe level of damage, often suggesting that the item is irreparable or its usefulness is completely lost.
Yes, the plural form 'ruins' is commonly used as a noun to refer to the remains of old buildings or structures that have been destroyed over time, like 'the ruins of ancient Rome'.
This phrase means to cause someone to have a very bad or unsuccessful life, often through severe harm, betrayal, or negative actions that have long-lasting consequences.
