cannibalize

A verb used to describe the act of taking parts from one machine, vehicle, or system to repair or build another, or in a business context, to reduce sales of one product by introducing a similar new one.

• 🇩🇪Verb, das beschreibt, dass man Teile aus einer Maschine, einem Fahrzeug oder System ausbaut, um eine andere zu reparieren oder zusammenzubauen; im wirtschaftlichen Kontext die Verdrängung oder Umsatzrückgang eines Produkts durch die Einführung eines ähnlichen neuen Produkts.

1. Eat human flesh C1 formal

   To consume the flesh of a member of one's own species, especially a human.

   • The tribe was known to cannibalize their enemies in ancient times.
   • In extreme survival situations, some have resorted to cannibalizing the dead.
   • The horror movie depicted a group of stranded people who began to cannibalize each other.

   🇩🇪Menschenfleisch essen

2. Use parts for repair B2 formal technical

   To take parts from one machine or vehicle to repair or build another, often of the same type.

   • The mechanic decided to cannibalize the old car for spare parts.
   • They had to cannibalize one computer to fix the other.
   • The company cannibalized its older models to produce a new prototype.

   🇩🇪Teile ausschlachten

   Synonyme: dismantlerecyclereusesalvagescavengestrip

• cannibalized past participle
• cannibalized past simple
• cannibalizing present participle
• cannibalizes third person singular