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scavengeto search for and collect discarded items or food; to feed on dead or decaying matter

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to search for and collect discarded items or food; to feed on dead or decaying matter

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈskævɪndʒ/

Example Sentences

  • The zombie apocalypse survivor had to scavenge the abandoned mall for supplies.
  • My mom can scavenge a five-course meal from seemingly empty leftovers.
  • Vultures scavenge on the remains of dead animals in the desert.

scavenge

VERB

[/ˈskævɪndʒ/]

to search for and collect discarded items or food; to feed on dead or decaying matter

Raccoon searching through garbage for food
💡 Concept

Raccoon searching through garbage for food

Scavenge for advantage, avoid the damage!
🎵 Rhyme

Scavenge for advantage, avoid the damage!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈskævɪndʒ/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈskævɪndʒ/

🌳Etymology

Rootscaveng
Suffix--e

Origin

Scavenge emerged in the 16th century from Middle English, originally meaning 'to clean or remove.' The word developed its modern sense from the practices of urban scavengers who collected useful items while clearing street refuse.

Breakdown

Derived from the noun scavenger (street cleaner), with the verbal suffix -age transforming it into a verb denoting the action of searching through discarded materials for salvageable items.

🎵Rhyme

advantagedamagemanage
advantage
damage
manage

🔗Collocations

scavenge for food
scavenge through garbage
scavenge materials
scavenge the streets
scavenge for parts

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The zombie apocalypse survivor had to scavenge the abandoned mall for supplies.

😄 Fun example

My mom can scavenge a five-course meal from seemingly empty leftovers.

Vultures scavenge on the remains of dead animals in the desert.

During the economic crisis, many people had to scavenge for recyclable materials to earn money.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

foragehuntsearchrummagegather

Antonyms

discardwasteabandon

Related

scavengersalvagecollectgatherhunt

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