scavenge

scavenge
scav|enge [ˈskævındʒ] v [I and T]
[Date: 1600-1700; Origin: scavenger (16-21 centuries), from scavager 'tax collector, someone who cleans streets' (15-19 centuries), from scavage 'tax on goods sold' (15-19 centuries), from Old North French escauwage 'examination']
1.) if an animal scavenges, it eats anything that it can find
▪ Pigs scavenged among the rubbish.
scavenge for
▪ rats scavenging for food
2.) if someone scavenges, they search through things that other people do not want for food or useful objects
▪ There are people who live in the dump and scavenge garbage for a living.
scavenge for
▪ Women were scavenging for old furniture.
>scavenger n
▪ Foxes and other scavengers go through the dustbins.

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Scavenge — Scav enge, v. i. (Internal combustion Engines) To remove the burned gases from the cylinder after a working stroke; as, this engine does not scavenge well. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Scavenge — Scav enge, v. t. To cleanse, as streets, from filth. C. Kingsley. [1913 Webster] 2. to salvage (usable items or material) from discarded or waste material. [PJC] 3. To remove (burned gases) from the cylinder after a working stroke. [Webster 1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • scavenge — index prowl Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • scavenge — (v.) 1640s, back formation from SCAVENGER (Cf. scavenger). Related: Scavenged; scavenging …   Etymology dictionary

  • scavenge — ► VERB 1) search for and collect (anything usable) from discarded waste. 2) search for (carrion) as food. 3) technical combine with and remove (a substance) from a medium …   English terms dictionary

  • scavenge — [skav′inj] vt. scavenged, scavenging [back form. < SCAVENGER] 1. to clean up (streets, alleys, etc.); remove rubbish, dirt, or garbage from 2. to salvage (usable goods) by rummaging through refuse or discards 3. to remove burned gases from… …   English World dictionary

  • scavenge — [[t]skæ̱vɪnʤ[/t]] scavenges, scavenging, scavenged VERB If people or animals scavenge for things, they collect them by searching among waste or unwanted objects. [V for n] Many are orphans, their parents killed as they scavenged for food... [V… …   English dictionary

  • scavenge — v. (D; intr.) to scavenge for * * * [ skævɪndʒ] (D; intr.) to scavenge for …   Combinatory dictionary

  • scavenge — UK [ˈskævɪndʒ] / US [ˈskævəndʒ] verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms scavenge : present tense I/you/we/they scavenge he/she/it scavenges present participle scavenging past tense scavenged past participle scavenged 1) if an animal scavenges,… …   English dictionary

  • scavenge — verb (scavenged; scavenging) Etymology: back formation from scavenger Date: circa 1644 transitive verb 1. a. (1) to remove (as dirt or refuse) from an area (2) to clean away dirt or refuse from ; cleanse …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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