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Shipwreck - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A shipwreck is the destruction or sinking of a ship at sea, often due to storms, collisions, or accidents. It can also refer to the remains of a sunken vessel.

shipwreck

/ˈʃɪpˌrɛk/ /ˈʃɪpˌrek/

Definition:

The destruction or sinking of a ship at sea due to accident, storm, or attack.

Synonyms:

wreck, sinking, maritime disaster, vessel loss

Part of Speech:

noun, verb

Antonyms:

salvage, rescue

Common Collocations:

ancient shipwreck, survive a shipwreck, shipwreck site, tragic shipwreck

Derivatives:

shipwrecked (adj.), shipwrecking (v.)

Usage Tips:

Use "shipwreck" as a noun for the event or as a verb meaning to cause a ship to sink.

Common Phrases:

go down with the ship, a shipwreck of hopes, abandon ship

Etymology:

From Old English "scip" (ship) + "wrecan" (to drive or punish), meaning a ship driven to destruction.

Examples:

  • 1. The divers explored the ancient shipwreck off the coast.
  • 2. The storm threatened to shipwreck the small fishing boat.
  • 3. Many treasures were lost in the famous 18th-century shipwreck.
  • 4. She survived the shipwreck by clinging to floating debris.

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