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Plunger vs Ruin - What's the difference?

plunger | ruin | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between plunger and ruin

is that plunger is a device that is used to remove blockages from a toilet or sink by suction while ruin is the remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle.

As a verb ruin is

to cause the ruin of.

plunger

Noun

(en noun)
  • A device that is used to remove blockages from a toilet or sink by suction.
  • The internal piece of a syringe that pushes out or pulls in any contents.
  • The sliding activator of an exploder, an electrical generator used to trigger electrical detonators such as blasting caps.
  • The part of a that is pushed down to remove grounds from coffee.
  • One who plunges; a diver.
  • A device similar to a piston but without a mechanism; a long solid cylinder used, instead of a piston or bucket, as a forcer in pumps.
  • The moving portion of solenoid.
  • (pinball) The spring-loaded assembly that propels the ball onto the table.
  • (dated, slang) A reckless gambler.
  • (pottery) A boiler in which clay is beaten by a wheel to a creamy consistency.
  • (Knight)
  • (firearms) The firing pin of a breechloader.
  • Synonyms

    * (device) plumber's helper (colloquial), plumber's friend (colloquial)

    Derived terms

    * autoplunger

    ruin

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The remains of a destroyed or dilapidated construction, such as a house or castle.
  • *(Joseph Addison) (1672–1719)
  • *:The Veian and the Gabian towers shall fall, / And one promiscuous ruin' cover all; / Nor, after length of years, a stone betray / The place where once the very ' ruins lay.
  • *(Joseph Stevens Buckminster) (1751-1812)
  • *:The labour of a day will not build up a virtuous habit on the ruins of an old and vicious character.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=Foreword citation , passage=A canister of flour from the kitchen had been thrown at the looking-glass and lay like trampled snow over the remains of a decent blue suit with the lining ripped out which lay on top of the ruin of a plastic wardrobe.}}
  • (lb) The state of being a ruin, destroyed or decayed.
  • :
  • (lb) Something that leads to serious trouble or destruction.
  • :
  • *(Francis Bacon) (1561-1626)
  • *:The errors of young men are the ruin of business.
  • *
  • *:The Bat—they called him the Bat.. Most lone wolves had a moll at any rate—women were their ruin —but if the Bat had a moll, not even the grapevine telegraph could locate her.
  • (lb) A fall or tumble.
  • *(George Chapman) (1559-1634)
  • *:His ruin startled the other steeds.
  • A change that destroys or defeats something; destruction; overthrow.
  • :
  • *(Thomas Gray) (1716-1771)
  • *:Ruin seize thee, ruthless king!
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • to cause the ruin of.
  • * 1883 ,
  • In one way, indeed, he bade fair to ruin us; for he kept on staying week after week, and at last month after month, so that all the money had been long exhausted...
  • To destroy or make something no longer usable.
  • He ruined his new white slacks by accidentally spilling oil on them.
  • * Longfellow
  • By the fireside there are old men seated, / Seeling ruined cities in the ashes.
  • To upset or mess up the plans or progress of, or to put into disarray; to spoil.
  • My car breaking down just as I was on the road ruined my vacation.

    Synonyms

    * destroy * fordo * ruinate * wreck

    Antonyms

    * build * construct * found * produce