<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>ruins, the remains of a building, city, etc., that has been destroyed or that is in disrepair or a state of decay: We visited the ruins of ancient Greece.</li><li>a destroyed or decayed building, town, etc.</li><li>a fallen, wrecked, or decayed condition: The building fell to ruin.</li><li>the downfall, decay, or destruction of anything.</li><li>Synonyms: wreck, defeat, overthrow, fall</li><li>Antonyms: creation, construction</li><li>the complete loss of health, means, position, hope, or the like.</li><li>something that causes a downfall or destruction; blight: Alcohol was his ruin.</li><li>the downfall of a person; undoing: Fate decreed the ruin of Oedipus.</li><li>a person as the wreck of their former self; ravaged individual.</li><li>the act of causing destruction or a downfall.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used with object) to reduce to a fallen, wrecked, or decayed condition; devastate.</li><li>Synonyms: damage, destroy, demolish</li><li>to bring (a person, company, etc.) to financial destruction; bankrupt.</li><li>to damage, spoil, or injure (a thing) irretrievably: Not only was the burned stew inedible, but I had absolutely ruined one of my favorite pots.</li><li>Older Use: to induce (a woman) to surrender her virginity; deflower.</li><li>(used without object) to fall into decay; fall to pieces.</li><li>to come to downfall or destruction.</li></ul>