First Known Use: 12th century
Dictionary
1wreck
noun \ˈrek\
: a vehicle, airplane, etc., that has been badly damaged or destroyed
: a ruined or destroyed ship
: an accident in which a car, airplane, train, etc., is badly damaged or destroyed
Full Definition of WRECK
1
: something cast up on the land by the sea especially after a shipwreck
2
a : shipwreck b : the action of wrecking or fact or state of being wrecked : destruction c : a violent and destructive crash <was injured in a car wreck>
3
a : a hulk or the ruins of a wrecked ship b : the broken remains of something wrecked or otherwise ruined c : something disabled or in a state of ruin or dilapidation <the house was a wreck>; also : a person or animal of broken constitution, health, or spirits <he's a nervous wreck>
See wreck defined for English-language learners
See wreck defined for kids
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Origin of WRECK
Middle English wrek, from Anglo-French, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse rek wreck; akin to Old English wrecan to drive
2wreck
verb
: to damage (something) so badly that it cannot be repaired
: to ruin or destroy (something)
: to destroy (a ship) by crashing it into something
Full Definition of WRECK
transitive verb
1
: to cast ashore
2
a : to reduce to a ruinous state by or as if by violence <a country wrecked by war> <ambition wrecked his marriage> b : shipwreck c : to ruin, damage, or imperil by a wreck <wrecked the car>
3
: bring about, wreak <wreck havoc>
intransitive verb
1
: to become wrecked
2
: to rob, salvage, or repair wreckage or a wreck
See wreck defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of WRECK
14th century
WRECKED Defined for Kids
1wreck
noun \ˈrek\
Definition of WRECK for Kids
1
: the remains (as of a ship or vehicle) after heavy damage usually by storm, collision, or fire
2
: a person who is very tired, ill, worried, or unhappy <I'm a nervous wreck.>
3
: the action of damaging or destroying something <A lower speed limit will reduce wrecks.>
4
: something in a state of ruin <The house is a wreck.>
2wreck
verb
wreckedwreck·ing
Definition of WRECK for Kids
1
: to damage or destroy by or as if by force or violence <I wrecked my car.>
2
: to bring to ruin or an end <Our picnic was wrecked by the rain.>
3
: 2shipwreck 2
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