scavenge

• Verbe utilisé pour désigner l'action de chercher et de récupérer des objets ou des matériaux encore utilisables dans des déchets ou des rebuts, ou l'action d'un animal qui se nourrit de matières mortes ou en décomposition.

A verb used to indicate the act of searching for and collecting usable items from discarded or waste materials, or of an animal feeding on dead or decaying matter.

1. Clean refuse fromB2formal

   To remove waste or unwanted material from a place.

   débarrasser des déchets

   • The workers scavenged the debris from the construction site.
   • They scavenged the beach of plastic bottles and trash.
   • The team scavenged the old warehouse of scrap metal.

   Synonymescleancleanseclearsweep

2. Collect discarded materialB2formal

   To search for and collect items that have been thrown away, often for reuse or recycling.

   récupérer (des objets mis au rebut)

   • He scavenged the junkyard for usable parts.
   • She scavenged through the trash for old newspapers.
   • The artist scavenged materials from abandoned buildings for her sculptures.

   Synonymesforagerummagesalvagescrounge

3. Feed on carrion or refuseB2formal

   To eat dead animals or waste material, typically used for animals.

   se nourrir de charogne

   • Vultures scavenge on the remains of dead animals.
   • Raccoons often scavenge through garbage bins at night.
   • The hyenas scavenged the carcass left by the lions.

4. Remove unwanted substancesC1formal

   To extract or eliminate harmful or unwanted substances from something.

   Éliminer les substances indésirables

   • The chemical process scavenges impurities from the water.
   • The filter scavenges pollutants from the air.
   • The system scavenges excess heat from the engine.

   Synonymescleanseclearfilterpurgepurifyremovescrub