The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word BUST
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
B
U
S
T
More clues leading to the result BUST
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Ruined/a sculpture" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case ruined/a sculpture = bust.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BUST mean?
BUST noun- A sculptural portrayal of a person's head and shoulders.
- The breasts and upper thorax of a woman.
- The downward portion of a boom and bust cycle; a recession.
- A police raid or takedown of a criminal enterprise.
- A disappointment.
- The act of arresting someone for a crime, or raiding a suspected criminal operation.
- A failed enterprise; a bomb.
- A refutation of an opening, or of a previously published analysis.
- A player who fails to meet expectations.
- To break.
- To arrest (someone) for a crime.
- To catch (someone) in the act of doing something wrong, socially and morally inappropriate, or illegal, especially when being done in a sneaky or secretive state.
- An emphatic synonym of do or get.
- To reduce in rank.
- To undo a trade, generally an error trade, that has already been executed.
- To lose all of one's chips.
- To exceed a score of 21.
- To break in (an animal).
- To ejaculate; to eject semen.
- Without any money, broke, bankrupt.