Wreck Meaning
/ˈɹɛk/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounSomething or someone that has been ruined.
nounThe remains of something that has been severely damaged or worn down.
Sentence Examples
The divers found a wreck on the sea-bed.
A stewardess was rescued from the wreck.
He failed in his business and now is a total wreck.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The violent storm will ____ the old wooden ship docked at the harbor.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The old car was a total ____ after the accident, so it was eventually taken to the local scrapyard today.
Word Origin & History
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).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"To the fair haven of my native home, / The vvreck of vvhat I was, fatigued I come, […]"
— 1782, William Cowper, “Retirement”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], →OCLC, page 277:
"In 2006, 18-year-old Nikki Catsouras was killed in a car wreck in Lake Forest."
— 2015 July 16, Rob Hayes, “Santa Monica nonprofit pushing Google for 'Right to be Forgotten'”, in KABC-TV:
"Hard and obſtinate, / As is a rocke amidſt the raging floods: / gaynſt vvhich a ſhip of ſuccour deſolate, / doth ſuffer vvreck both of her ſelfe and goods."
— 1595, Edmunde Spenser [i.e., Edmund Spenser], “[Amoretti.] Sonnet LVI”, in Amoretti and Epithalamion. […], London: […] [Peter Short] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, signature [D5], verso:
"the wrecks of matter and the crush of worlds"
— 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 57:
"Its intellectual life was thus able to go on amidst the wreck of its political life."
— 1883, John Richard Green, The Conquest of England:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The violent storm will ____ the old wooden ship docked at the harbor.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The old car was a total ____ after the accident, so it was eventually taken to the local scrapyard today.