wreck
UK: rek | US: rek
n. 1. The destruction of a ship at sea; a shipwreck.
n. 2. The remains of something that has been badly damaged or destroyed.
vt. 1. To cause the destruction of a ship.
vt. 2. To severely damage or ruin something.
The word "wreck" originates from Old English wrecan, meaning "to drive, punish, or avenge," and later evolved through Old Norse reka ("to drive, push") to Middle English wrek ("shipwreck"). The modern sense of "destruction" or "ruin" emerged from the idea of being driven ashore or broken apart, particularly in maritime contexts. The morpheme "wreck" retains its core idea of forceful displacement or damage.
The storm caused the ship to wreck on the rocky coast.
Investigators examined the wreck of the plane to determine the cause of the crash.
His reckless behavior could wreck his career.
The abandoned car was a rusted wreck.
The financial crisis nearly wrecked the economy.