scavenge

Back-formation from scavenger.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈskæv.ɪndʒ/

• Audio (US):

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scavenge (third-person singular simple present scavenges, present participle scavenging, simple past and past participle scavenged)

1. (transitive) To collect and remove refuse, or to search through refuse, carrion, or abandoned items for useful material.

   Synonym: ragpick

   We scavenged a couple of old beer cans for our art project.

   They had to scavenge the forest for firewood.

2. (transitive) To remove unwanted material from something, especially to purify molten metal by removing impurities.
3. (transitive) To expel the exhaust gases from the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, and draw in air for the next cycle.
4. (intransitive) To feed on carrion or refuse.