wrecker
[ rek-er ]
/ ˈrɛk ər /
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noun
a person or thing that wrecks.
a person, car, or train employed in removing wreckage, debris, etc., as from railroad tracks.
Also called tow car, tow truck. a vehicle equipped with a mechanical apparatus for hoisting and pulling, used to tow wrecked, disabled, or stalled automobiles.
Also called housewrecker. a person whose business it is to demolish and remove houses or other buildings, as in clearing sites for other use.
a person or vessel employed in recovering salvage from wrecked or disabled vessels.
a person who plunders wrecks, especially after exhibiting false signals in order to cause shipwrecks.
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Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Words nearby wrecker
wreathed column, wreathy, wreck, wreckage, wrecked, wrecker, wrecker's ball, wreckfish, wreckful, wrecking, wrecking bar
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for wrecker
British Dictionary definitions for wrecker
wrecker
/ (ˈrɛkə) /
noun
a person or thing that ruins or destroys
mainly US and Canadian a person whose job is to demolish buildings or dismantle cars
(formerly) a person who lures ships to destruction to plunder the wreckage
US and Canadian another word for tow truck
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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