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3 : a cause of destruction

4 : the action of destroying

Synonyms

[1] annihilation, demolition, desolation, destruction, devastation, havoc, loss, obliteration, wastage, wreckage—more at DESTRUCTION

ruins [2] debris, remains, residue, rubble, wreck, wreckage—more at REMAINS

2ruin verb 1 : to reduce to ruins : DESTROY

2 : to damage beyond repair

3 : BANKRUPT

Synonyms

[1] destroy, devastate, ravage, scourge—more at RAVAGE

[2] annihilate, blot out, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, do in, exterminate, extinguish, obliterate, pulverize, shatter, smash, tear down, waste, wipe out, wreck—more at DESTROY

ru·in·ation noun : the state of being ruined : RUIN, DESTRUCTION

ru·in·ous adjective 1 : RUINED, DILAPIDATED

2 : causing ruin

— ru·in·ous·ly adverb

Synonyms

calamitous, catastrophic, destructive, devastating, disastrous, fatal, fateful, unfortunate—more at FATAL

1rule noun [ORIGIN: ME reule, fr. AF, fr. L regula straightedge, rule, fr. regere to keep straight, direct]

1 : a guide or principle for governing action : REGULATION

2 : the usual way of doing something

3 : the exercise of authority or control : GOVERNMENT

4 : RULER 2

Synonyms

[1] regulation; also code, constitution; act, law, ordinance, statute; command, decree, dictate, directive, edict, fiat, order; axiom, fundamental, maxim, precept; moral, principle, value; prohibition, restriction; convention, custom, habit, manners, mores, practice, tradition, way; blueprint, canon, formula, guide, guideline, recipe, standard

[3] administration, authority, government, jurisdiction, regime; also reign; dominion, power, sovereignty, supremacy, sway; command, leadership; direction, management, regulation, superintendence, supervision; dictatorship, domination, mastery, oppression, subjugation, tyranny

2rule verb ruled; rul·ing 1 : to exert control, direction, or influence on; also : GOVERN

2 : to be supreme or outstanding in

3 : to give or state as a considered decision

4 : to mark on paper with or as if with a ruler

Synonyms

[1] boss, captain, command, control, govern, preside—more at GOVERN

usually rule on [3] adjudicate, arbitrate, decide, determine, judge, referee, settle, umpire—more at JUDGE

rule out verb : to remove from consideration

Synonyms

ban, bar, debar, eliminate, except, exclude—more at EXCLUDE

rul·er noun 1 : one that rules

2 : a straight strip of material (as wood or metal) marked off in units and used for measuring or as a straightedge

Synonyms

autocrat, monarch, sovereign—more at MONARCH

ruling noun : an official or authoritative decision, decree, statement, or interpretation (as by a judge on a point of law)

Synonyms

doom, finding, holding, judgment, sentence—more at SENTENCE

decree, directive, edict, fiat—more at EDICT

rum noun 1 : an alcoholic liquor made from sugarcane products (as molasses)

2 : alcoholic liquor

Ru·ma·nian variant of ROMANIAN

rum·ba noun : a dance of Cuban origin marked by strong rhythmic movements

1rumble verb rum·bled; rum·bling 1 : to make a low heavy rolling sound

2 : to move along with such a sound

— rum·bler noun

Synonyms

growl, grumble, lumber, roll; also boom, drum, thunder

2rumble noun 1 : a low heavy rolling sound

2 : a street fight esp. among gangs

rumble seat noun : a folding seat in the back of an automobile that is not covered by the top

rum·bling noun 1 : RUMBLE

2 : widespread talk or complaints — usu. used in pl.

ru·men noun, plural ru·mi·na or rumens : the large first compartment of the stomach of a ruminant (as a cow)

1ruminant noun : a ruminant mammal

2ruminant adjective 1 : chewing the cud; also : of or relating to a group of hoofed mammals (as cattle, deer, and camels) that chew the cud and have a complex 3- or 4-chambered stomach

2 : given to or engaged in contemplation : MEDITATIVE

Synonyms

contemplative, meditative, pensive, reflective, thoughtful—more at CONTEMPLATIVE

ru·mi·nate verb -nat·ed; -nat·ing [ORIGIN: L ruminari to chew the cud, muse upon,