verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK:/ˈskæv.ɪndʒ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S K AE1 V AH0 N JH
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To collect and remove refuse, or to search through refuse, carrion, or abandoned items for useful material.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
We scavenged a couple of old beer cans for our art project.
They had to scavenge the forest for firewood.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: ragpick, scrounge
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To remove unwanted material from something, especially to purify molten metal by removing impurities.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To expel the exhaust gases from the cylinder of an internal combustion engine, and draw in air for the next cycle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To feed on carrion or refuse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
remove unwanted substances from
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: clean
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: remove, take, take away, withdraw
6
verb
Meaning 6
feed on carrion or refuse
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
hyenas scavenge
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: feed, give
7
verb
Meaning 7
collect discarded or refused material
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
She scavenged the garbage cans for food
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: salvage
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: gather, garner, collect, pull together
8
verb
Meaning 8
clean refuse from
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Scavenge a street
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: clean, make clean
History
Etymology
Back-formation from scavenger. Compare messenger and passenger.
Across languages
Translations
40 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
събирам смет
(sǎbiram smet)
— to collect and remove refuse
Chinese:
拾荒
(shíhuāng)
— to collect and remove refuse
Chinese Mandarin:
撿垃圾 /捡垃圾
(jiǎn lājī)
— to collect and remove refuse
Dutch:
vuil ophalen
— to collect and remove refuse
French:
ramasser les ordures
— to collect and remove refuse
German:
durchstöbern
— to collect and remove refuse
Hungarian:
guberál
— to collect and remove refuse
Hungarian:
kukázik
— to collect and remove refuse
Italian:
rovistare
— to collect and remove refuse
Italian:
frugare
— to collect and remove refuse
Māori:
paraketu
— to collect and remove refuse
Māori:
hamu
— to collect and remove refuse
Māori:
hamuhamu
— to collect and remove refuse
Polish:
żerować
— to collect and remove refuse
Portuguese:
catar
— to collect and remove refuse
Russian:
рыться в отбросах
(v)
— to collect and remove refuse
Dutch:
reinigen
— to remove unwanted material
French:
nettoyer
— to remove unwanted material
German:
reinigen
— to remove unwanted material
German:
entschlacken
— to remove unwanted material
Hungarian:
eltakarít
— to remove unwanted material
Hungarian:
kitisztít
— to remove unwanted material
Hungarian:
tisztít
— to remove unwanted material
Hungarian:
kiöblít
— to remove unwanted material
Hungarian:
átöblít
— to remove unwanted material
Hungarian:
öblít
— to remove unwanted material
Russian:
очищать
(očiščatʹ)
— to remove unwanted material
Bulgarian:
продухвам
(produhvam)
— to expel the exhaust gases from the cylinder of an internal combustion engine
German:
entgasen
— to expel the exhaust gases from the cylinder of an internal combustion engine
German:
ausstoßen
— to expel the exhaust gases from the cylinder of an internal combustion engine
Hungarian:
kifúvat
— to expel the exhaust gases from the cylinder of an internal combustion engine
Hungarian:
átfúvat
— to expel the exhaust gases from the cylinder of an internal combustion engine
Russian:
продувать
(produvatʹ)
— to expel the exhaust gases from the cylinder of an internal combustion engine
Hungarian:
dögöt/hulladékot eszik
— to feed on carrion or refuse
Hungarian:
dögevő
— to feed on carrion or refuse
Hungarian:
hulladékevő
— to feed on carrion or refuse
Irish:
cart
— to feed on carrion or refuse
Māori:
hamuhamu
— to feed on carrion or refuse
Russian:
питаться падалью
(pitatʹsja)
— to feed on carrion or refuse
