Ruin

Remains of ancient structures or civilizations.

ruins遗址

A ruin refers to the remains of ancient structures or civilizations that have been partially destroyed over time due to natural disasters, human conflict, abandonment, or decay.

/ruːɪn/

From Old French ruin, from Latin ruina meaning 'a collapse, fall, overthrow'.

A ruin is what's left of something old, like a castle or temple, after it has fallen apart.

Pompeii is a famous Roman ruin preserved by volcanic ash
Machu Picchu in Peru is a well-preserved Inca ruin high in the Andes Mountains
The Roman Forum was once the center of ancient Rome, now it is a collection of ruins

What is a ruin? It's what remains of an old building or city after it has been damaged or destroyed
Can ruins tell us about the past? Yes, they provide clues about how people lived and built things long ago
Are all ruins ancient? Not necessarily
a building can be considered a ruin if it's significantly damaged

wreck remains vestiges

destruction decay collapse

castle ruin temple ruin city ruin

debris rubble fragments

site area landscape

archaeological site historical landmark natural formation natural process