damage

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Physical harm that makes something less useful or valuable.

   The storm did a lot of damage to the area.

2. 2
   verb

   To harm something so that it is broken or made less good.

   Be careful not to damage the fragile glasses while unpacking.

3. 3
   noun

   Money paid to someone for harm or loss caused to them (usually plural).

   The court ordered the company to pay damages to the workers.

Common collocations

• damage health Verb + noun
• damage the brain Verb + noun
• damage cells Verb + noun

From Middle English damage, from Old French damage, from Vulgar Latin *damnāticum from Classical Latin damnum. Compare modern French dommage. Largely displaced native Middle English scath (whence unscathed). Cognate with Spanish daño.

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