Wreck Meaning and Definition
Wreck
Pronunciation
/ˈrɛk/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A destruction or demolition of something, especially a ship or a vehicle, caused by damage or a catastrophic event.
Examples
- The car was severely wrecked in the accident.
- The ship was wrecked on the rocky coast.
Synonyms
- Debris
- Loss
Antonyms
- Preserve
- Save
Etymology
The word “wreck” comes from Old English “wrecan”, meaning “to ruin” or “to damage”, and is related to the Germanic word “wreckiz”, meaning “to destroy”.
Usage Notes
In British English, the word “wreck” is often used to describe the remains of a ship or a vehicle that has been destroyed, whereas in American English, it can refer to any type of destruction or damage.
Cultural References
The word “wreck” has appeared in various forms of media, including literature, film, and music. For example, the phrase “Wreck of the ‘Hesperus” is a famous poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow about a shipwreck.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- “Wreck your life” means to deliberately cause damage or destruction to one’s own life.
Related Words or Phrases
- Damage
- Ruin
- Destroy
Collocations
- wreck the party
- wreck havoc
- wreck someone’s life
Frequency of Use
The word “wreck” is commonly used in everyday language, especially in contexts where destruction or damage is involved.
Common Misspellings
- reck
- wrek