the process of becoming dilapidated
"Years of neglect and harsh weather slowly began to ruin the old stone bridge until it was barely standing."
destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined
"The storm's fierce winds managed to ruin the old lighthouse, leaving its glass panes shattered and its structure leaning dangerously."
The remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle.
"The ancient stone ruin stood silently amidst the overgrown weeds where the old castle once towered."
In plain English: A ruin is something that has been destroyed and left in bad shape so it cannot be used anymore.
"The bad weather was just another ruin to the already ruined garden party."
Usage: As a noun, ruin refers specifically to the physical remains of a building that has been destroyed or fallen into disrepair. Use this term when describing crumbling structures like ancient castles rather than abstract failures or financial collapse.
To cause the fiscal ruin of.
"The sudden market crash ruined several small investors by wiping out their entire life savings."
In plain English: To ruin something means to damage it so badly that it can no longer be used or enjoyed properly.
"The heavy rain ruined our picnic plans completely."
The word "ruin" comes from the Latin verb ruō, which means "to fall down" or "tumble." It entered English through Old French and Middle English with the original sense of an overthrow or collapse.