Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Shipwreck

Ship′wreckˊ

,
Noun.
1.
The breaking in pieces, or shattering, of a ship or other vessel by being cast ashore or driven against rocks, shoals, etc., by the violence of the winds and waves.
2.
A ship wrecked or destroyed upon the water, or the parts of such a ship; wreckage.
Dryden.
3.
Fig.: Destruction; ruin; irretrievable loss.
Holding faith and a good conscience, which some having put away concerning faith have made
shipwreck
.
1 Tim. 1. 19.
It was upon an Indian bill that the late ministry
had made shipwreck
.
J. Morley.

Ship′wreckˊ

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Shipwrecked
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Shipwrecking
.]
1.
To destroy, as a ship at sea, by running ashore or on rocks or sandbanks, or by the force of wind and waves in a tempest.
Shipwrecking
storms and direful thunders break.
Shakespeare
2.
To cause to experience shipwreck, as sailors or passengers. Hence, to cause to suffer some disaster or loss; to destroy or ruin, as if by shipwreck; to wreck;
as, to
shipwreck
a business
.
Addison.

Webster 1828 Edition


Shipwreck

SHIP'WRECK

,
Noun.
[ship and wreck.]
1. The destruction of a ship or vessel by being cast ashore or broken to pieces by beating against rocks and the like.
2. The parts of a shattered ship.
3. Destruction.

Definition 2024


shipwreck

shipwreck

English

Alternative forms

  • shipwrack

Noun

shipwreck (plural shipwrecks)

  1. A ship that has sunk or run aground so that it is no longer seaworthy.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Dryden to this entry?)
  2. An event where a ship sinks or runs aground.
  3. (figuratively) destruction; ruin; irretrievable loss
    • Bible, 1 Timothy 1. 19
      Holding faith and a good conscience, which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.
    • J. Morley
      It was upon an Indian bill that the late ministry had made shipwreck.

Derived terms

Synonyms

Translations

Verb

shipwreck (third-person singular simple present shipwrecks, present participle shipwrecking, simple past and past participle shipwrecked)

  1. To wreck a boat through a collision or mishap.

Translations

See also