devastation
UK/.devә'steiʃәn/US
TOEFLB1
Definitions
n.
Great and widespread destruction or ruin
（大范围的）毁坏，破坏；浩劫
n.
Severe and overwhelming grief or shock
极度的悲痛，沉重的打击
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedde-down, away, reversal
+
-at-act, process, state
+
-ionact, process, state
=devastation
de- (thoroughly) + vast (lay waste) + -at- + -ion (state/result) = the state of having been laid completely waste — the ruin left behind. It names the aftermath: the scene of devastation after a disaster, or, figuratively, the inner ruin of overwhelming grief.
Root vast still carries 5 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.widespread devastation大范围破坏
- 2.a scene of devastation一片废墟的景象
- 3.leave a trail of devastation留下一路浩劫
- 4.environmental devastation环境破坏
- 5.utter devastation彻底的毁灭
Example Sentences
- 1.
The hurricane left a trail of devastation across the islands.
- 2.
Rescuers were shocked by the scale of the devastation.
- 3.
The devastation of losing both parents was almost too much to bear.