shipwreck

[ship-rek]

noun

1. the destruction or loss of a ship, as by sinking.

2. the remains of a wrecked ship.

3. destruction or ruin.

   the shipwreck of one's hopes.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to suffer shipwreck.

2. to destroy; ruin.

verb (used without object)

1. to suffer shipwreck.

shipwreck

/ ˈʃɪpˌrɛk /

noun

1. the partial or total destruction of a ship at sea

2. a wrecked ship or part of such a ship

3. ruin or destruction

   the shipwreck of all my hopes

verb

1. to wreck or destroy (a ship)

2. to bring to ruin or destruction

Word History and Origins

Origin of shipwreck¹

before 1100; Middle English shipwrech remains of a shipwreck; ship ¹, wreck; replacing Old English scipwræc ( wrack )

Word History and Origins

Origin of shipwreck¹

Old English scipwræc, from _ship + wræc something driven by the sea; see _wrack ²

Example Sentences

Greek authorities have always denied any wrongdoing over the shipwreck.

Read more on BBC

In the wake of the shipwreck, migrant rescue charity Alarm Phone said it had alerted the Italian and Maltese authorities to the boat's plight, but accused both of delaying the rescue.

Read more on Barron's

On Friday, Italy's coastguard said it was searching for the survivors of a shipwrecked vessel carrying about 30 people in the search and a rescue area of Malta, some 50 miles southeast of Lampedusa.

Read more on Barron's

One of the most famous polar shipwrecks has been filmed in detail on the sea floor for the first time.

Read more on BBC

“It’s a song that I’ve always really loved, and the more I listened to it, I was like, there’s this woman who’s being shipwrecked and she’s being born again,” Edebiri says.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• capsize 
• decline 
• descend 
• dig 
• dip 
• disappear 
• drill 
• drive 
• drop 
• drown 
• fall 
• go down 
• lower 
• overturn 
• plummet 
• plunge 
• ram 
• sag 
• settle 
• slump