/'ru:ɪn; `ruɪn/
n
1 [U] severe damage or destruction 毁坏; 毁灭; 灭亡
*a city reduced to a state of ruin by war 由于战争而遭到严重破坏的城市
* The news meant the ruin of all our hopes. 这消息使我们的一切希望都破灭了.
2 [U]
(a) complete loss of all one's money, resources or prospects （金钱、资财的）完全丧失; （前途的）断送
*Ruin was staring her in the face. 她眼看就要倾家荡产了.
* brought to ruin by drugs 因吸毒而断送了前程.
(b) cause of this 毁灭、破产等的原因; 祸根
*Gambling was his ruin. 他堕落是因为好赌.
3 [U] state of being decayed, collapsed or destroyed 破败、坍塌或毁坏的状态
*The castle has fallen into ruin. 那城堡已破败不堪.
4 [C] remains of sth that has decayed or collapsed or been destroyed 破败、坍塌或毁坏之残余物; 废墟
*The abbey is now a ruin. 那修道院现已成废墟.
* the ruins of Pompeii 庞贝城的遗迹.
5 (idm 习语) go to rack and ruin => rack3. in `ruins in a severely damaged or decayed condition 严重受损; 破败不堪
*An earthquake left the whole town in ruins. 那次地震过後, 全城到处是颓垣断壁.
* His career is/lies in ruins. 他已前途尽毁.

v [Tn]
1 cause the destruction of (sth/sb) 毁坏, 毁灭（某事物[某人]）
*He ruined his prospects by carelessness. 他因疏忽大意而断送了前途.
* The storm ruined the crops. 暴风雨毁坏了庄稼.
* He's a ruined man, ie has lost all his money, prospects, etc. 他已不名一文（损失了全部钱财、断送了前途等）.
* a ruined building 毁坏的建筑物.
2 (infml 口) spoil (sth/sb) 毁坏, 损害（某事物[某人]）
*The island has been ruined by tourism. 该岛毁在旅游业上了.
* It poured with rain and my dress got/was ruined. 大雨倾盆, 我的连衣裙已淋得不成样子了.
* You're ruining that child, eg by being too indulgent. 你把孩子宠坏了.