wreck

Meanings

Noun

• Something or someone that has been ruined.
• The remains of something that has been severely damaged or worn down.
• An event in which something is damaged through collision.
• Goods, etc. cast ashore by the sea after a shipwreck.
• A large number of birds that have been brought to the ground, injured or dead, by extremely adverse weather.

Verb

• To destroy violently; to cause severe damage to something, to a point where it no longer works, or is useless.
• To ruin or dilapidate.
• To dismantle wrecked vehicles or other objects, to reclaim any useful parts.
• To involve in a wreck; hence, to cause to suffer ruin; to balk of success, and bring disaster on.
• To be involved in a wreck; to be damaged or destroyed.

Related

Similar words

• crash
• ruins

Opposite words

• build
• construct
• make
• produce

Origin

• From Middle English wrek, from Anglo-Norman wrek, from Old Norse *wrek (Norwegian and Icelandic rek, Swedish vrak), from Proto-Germanic *wrekaną, whence also Old English wrecan (English wreak), Old High German rehhan, Old Saxon wrekan, Gothic 𐍅𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽.