1 to damage sth so badly that it loses all its value, pleasure, etc 毁坏;毁灭:
a ruined building坍塌的楼宇The bad news ruined my week.那个坏消息使得我一个星期没好过。That one mistake ruined my chances of getting the job.就那一个错误毁了我获得那份工作的希望。
2 to cause sb to lose all his/her money, hope of being successful, etc 使完全丧失(金钱、希望等):
The cost of the court case nearly ruined them.诉讼费用使他们几乎倾家荡产。
*ruin²
/ˈru:ɪn ||; ˈruɪn/noun
1 [U] the state of being destroyed or very badly damaged 毁灭;灭亡;荒废:
The city was in a state of ruin.那个城市破败不堪。
2 [U] the cause or state of having lost all your money, hope of being successful, etc (金钱、希望等的)完全丧失,丧失的原因,祸因:
Many small companies are facing financial ruin.许多小公司面临破产。
3 [C] the parts of a building that are left standing after it has been destroyed or badly damaged 废墟;遗迹:
the ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii庞贝古城的遗迹
go to rack and ruin→RACK¹
in ruin(s) badly damaged or destroyed 破败不堪:
After the accident her life seemed to be in ruins.发生意外以后,她的一生似乎已毁了。