wreck

[ rek ]

/ rɛk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR wreck ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any building, structure, or thing reduced to a state of ruin.

wreckage, goods, etc., remaining above water after a shipwreck, especially when cast ashore.

the ruin or destruction of a vessel in the course of navigation; shipwreck.

a vessel in a state of ruin from disaster at sea, on rocks, etc.

the ruin or destruction of anything: the wreck of one's hopes.

a person of ruined health; someone in bad shape physically or mentally: The strain of his work left him a wreck.

verb (used with object)

to cause the wreck of (a vessel); shipwreck.

to involve in a wreck.

to cause the ruin or destruction of: to wreck a car.

to tear down; demolish: to wreck a building.

to ruin or impair severely: Fast living wrecked their health.

verb (used without object)

to be involved in a wreck; become wrecked: The trains wrecked at the crossing.

to act as a wrecker; engage in wrecking.

Nearby words

wreath, wreathe, wreathed column, wreaths, wreathy, wreck, wreckage, wrecked, wrecker, wrecker's ball, wreckfish

Origin of wreck

1200–50; (noun) Middle English wrec, wrech, wrek < Old Danish wrækæ wreck; (v.) late Middle English, derivative of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR wreck

9 destroy, devastate, shatter. See spoil.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR wreck ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

un·wrecked, adjective

Can be confused

rack wrack wreak wreckracked wracked wreaked wrecked

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for wreck

None of this is to say that the wreck and salvage of the Costa Concordia should have received less attention.
The Racism of Disaster Coverage|Barbie Latza Nadeau|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was a negligent accident that cost more than 30 lives, including a salvage diver who perished working on the wreck.
The Racism of Disaster Coverage|Barbie Latza Nadeau|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the case of Flight 17 the wreck is already yielding a lot of information.
MH17 Is the World’s First Open-Source Air Crash Investigation|Clive Irving|July 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They finally made it to the rocks off the island near the wreck, where they waited until rescue workers and islanders found them.
I Survived a Deadly Shipwreck: Costa Concordia Passengers Tell Their Stories|Barbie Latza Nadeau|May 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The result of this wreck was 86 people dead and over 200 injuries.
Thrills and Too Many Spills: The Dangers of the Circus|Marina Watts|May 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"We shall not forget what you have told us," said Gilbert, as the wreck prepared to leave the room.
The Mystery of Lincoln's Inn|Robert Machray
If it had been at the inn there would have been nothing to talk about at all, except about the wreck.
A Chapter of Adventures|G. A. Henty
He at first accepted several presents from the shipwrecked men, but afterwards withdrew from the place where the wreck took place.
The Voyage of the Vega round Asia and Europe, Volume I and Volume II|A.E. Nordenskieold
Stripping Rantaine, and disappearing with the wreck of the Durande, were the grand achievements.
Toilers of the Sea|Victor Hugo
Passing, she for the first time caught full sight of her son's face now that the hot water had exposed its wreck.
Once Aboard The Lugger|Arthur Stuart-Menteth Hutchinson

British Dictionary definitions for wreck

wreck

/ (rɛk) /

verb

to involve in or suffer disaster or destruction

(tr) to cause the wreck of (a ship)

noun

the accidental destruction of a ship at sea
the ship so destroyed

maritime law goods cast ashore from a wrecked vessel

a person or thing that has suffered ruin or dilapidation

the remains of something that has been destroyed

old-fashioned the act of wrecking or the state of being wrecked; ruin or destruction

Word Origin for wreck

C13: from Scandinavian; compare Icelandic rek. See wrack ², wreak

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

wreck

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of wreck

SYNONYMS FOR wreck

Related forms

Can be confused

Examples from the Web for wreck

British Dictionary definitions for wreck

wreck

verb

noun

Word Origin for wreck