wreck

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To damage or destroy something badly so that it no longer works.

   He wrecked the car in a collision.

2. 2
   noun

   A vehicle, ship, or building that has been badly damaged or destroyed.

   The house was a wreck when they bought it.

3. 3
   noun

   A person who is in very poor physical or emotional condition.

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

4. 4
   verb

   To ruin someone's plans, hopes, or chances of success.

   One careless mistake wrecked her chances of winning.

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).

Topics