wreck

 
Pronunciation: /rɛk/

noun

  • 1the destruction of a ship at sea; a shipwreck: the survivors of the wreck
  • a ship destroyed at sea: the salvaging of treasure from wrecks
  • [mass noun] Law goods brought ashore by the sea from a wreck: the profits of wreck
  • 2something, especially a vehicle or building, that has been badly damaged or destroyed: the plane was reduced to a smouldering wreck figurative the wreck of their marriage
  • North American a road or rail crash: a train wreck
  • 3a person whose physical or mental health or strength has failed: the scandal left the family emotional wrecks

verb

[with object]
  • 1cause the destruction of (a ship) by sinking or breaking up: he was drowned when his ship was wrecked
  • involve (someone) in a shipwreck: sailors who had the misfortune to be wrecked on these coasts
  • [no object] (usually as noun wrecking) chiefly historical cause the destruction of a ship in order to steal the cargo: the locals reverted to the age-old practice of wrecking
  • [no object] archaic suffer or undergo shipwreck: my letters were in one of the vessels that wreck’d
  • 2destroy or severely damage (a structure, vehicle, or similar): the blast wrecked 100 houses
  • spoil completely: an eye injury wrecked his chances of a professional career
  • 3 [no object] (usually as noun wrecking) chiefly North American engage in breaking up badly damaged vehicles or demolishing old buildings to obtain usable spares or scrap.

Origin:

Middle English (as a legal term denoting wreckage washed ashore): from Anglo-Norman French wrec, from the base of Old Norse reka 'to drive'; related to wreak