wreck

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation

   the house was a wreck when they bought it

2. 2
   noun

   Something or someone that has been ruined.

   He was an emotional wreck after the death of his wife.

3. 3
   noun

   The remains of something that has been severely damaged or worn down.

   To the fair haven of my native home, / The vvreck of vvhat I was, fatigued I come, […]

4. 4
   noun

   An event in which something is damaged through collision.

   Hard and obſtinate, / As is a rocke amidſt the raging floods: / gaynſt vvhich a ſhip of ſuccour deſolate, / doth ſuffer vvreck both of her ſelfe and goods.

5. 5
   noun

   Goods, etc. cast ashore by the sea after a shipwreck.

   2. ... Wreck includes the cargo, stores and tackle of a vessel and all parts of a vessel separated from the vessel, and the property of persons who belong to, are on board or have quitted a vessel that is wrecked, stranded or in distress at any place in Canada.

6. 6
   noun

   A large number of birds that have been brought to the ground, injured or dead, by extremely adverse weather.

   [I]n 1952 more than 7,000 were involved in such a "wreck" in Britain and Ireland.

7. 7
   verb

   To destroy violently; to cause severe damage to something, to a point where it no longer works, or is useless.

   He wrecked the car in a collision.

8. 8
   verb

   To involve in a wreck; hence, to cause to suffer ruin; to balk of success, and bring disaster on.

   Weak and envy'd, if they should conspire, / They wreck themselves, and he hath his Desire.

Etymology

From Middle English wrek, from Anglo-Norman wrek, from Old Norse *wrek (Norwegian and Icelandic rek, Swedish vrak, Danish vrag), from Proto-Germanic *wrekaną, whence also Old English wrecan (English wreak), Old High German rehhan, Old Saxon wrekan, Gothic 𐍅𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽 (wrikan).