wreck

Etymology

From Middle English wrek, from Anglo-Norman wrek, from Old Norse *wrek (Norwegian and Icelandic rek, Swedish vrak), from Proto-Germanic *wrekaną, whence also Old English wrecan (English wreak), Old High German rehhan, Old Saxon wrekan, Gothic 𐍅𐍂𐌹𐌺𐌰𐌽 (wrikan).

noun

1. Something or someone that has been ruined.
   He was an emotional wreck after the death of his wife.
2. The remains of something that has been severely damaged or worn down.
3. An event in which something is damaged through collision.
   Its intellectual life was thus able to go on amidst the wreck of its political life. 1883, John Richard Green, The Conquest of England
   1. (specifically, nautical) A shipwreck: an event in which a ship is heavily damaged or destroyed.
4. (law, not countable) Goods, etc. cast ashore by the sea after a shipwreck.
   2. ... Wreck includes the cargo, stores and tackle of a vessel and all parts of a vessel separated from the vessel, and the property of persons who belong to, are on board or have quitted a vessel that is wrecked, stranded or in distress at any place in Canada. 1985, “Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)”, in Justice Canada, retrieved 2021-09-09
5. (ornithology) A large number of birds that have been brought to the ground, injured or dead, by extremely adverse weather.
   [I]n 1952 more than 7,000 were involved in such a "wreck" in Britain and Ireland. 1988, Michael Cady, Rob Hume, editors, The Complete Book of British Birds, page 89

verb

1. (transitive) To destroy violently; to cause severe damage to something, to a point where it no longer works, or is useless.
   He wrecked the car in a collision.
   That adulterous hussy wrecked my marriage!
2. (transitive) To ruin or dilapidate.
3. (transitive, Australia) To dismantle wrecked vehicles or other objects, to reclaim any useful parts.
4. (transitive) To involve in a wreck; hence, to cause to suffer ruin; to balk of success, and bring disaster on.
5. (intransitive) To be involved in a wreck; to be damaged or destroyed.
   […] Mrs. Marleen Ketchum was not quite certain if the train wrecked or if the volcano blew its top. It took a moment before she was certain it had to be the passenger train. 2020, Marti Talbott, McShane's Bride, page 112