Library / English Dictionary

SCAVENGE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Remove unwanted substances from

Synonyms:

clean; scavenge

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "scavenge" is one way to...):

remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

scavenger (a chemical agent that is added to a chemical mixture to counteract the effects of impurities)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Feed on carrion or refuse

Example:

hyenas scavenge

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Hypernyms (to "scavenge" is one way to...):

feed; give (give food to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

scavenger (any animal that feeds on refuse and other decaying organic matter)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Collect discarded material

Example:

She scavenged the garbage cans for food

Synonyms:

salvage; scavenge

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "scavenge" is one way to...):

collect; garner; gather; pull together (assemble or get together)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence examples:

The men scavenge the area for animals

The men scavenge for animals in the area

Derivation:

scavenger (someone who collects things that have been discarded by others)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Clean refuse from

Example:

Scavenge a street

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "scavenge" is one way to...):

clean; make clean (make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Credits

 Context examples: 

IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract exhibits dose-dependent free-radical scavenging and antioxidant properties.

(IH636 Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract, NCI Thesaurus)

Antioxidants bind to and neutralize ('scavenge') free radicals, thereby transforming them into non-toxic compounds and blocking their genotoxic and carcinogenic effects.

(Antioxidant, NCI Thesaurus)

Although the exact mechanism of action remains to be fully elucidated, DG may prevent or reduce hepatotoxicity via the scavenging of free radicals.

(Diammonium Glycyrrhizinate, NCI Thesaurus)

Called mycorrhizal fungi, these organisms spread underground for miles, scavenging for nutrients that they trade with trees for sugars the trees make during photosynthesis.

(NASA Satellite Images Uncover Underground Forest Fungi, NASA)

Cabergoline also possesses antioxidant and neuroprotective properties due to its free radical scavenging activity.

(Cabergoline, NCI Thesaurus)

The thiol metabolite binds to and detoxifies cytotoxic platinum-containing metabolites of cisplatin and scavenges free radicals induced by cisplatin and ionizing radiation.

(Amifostine Anhydrous, NCI Thesaurus)

As potential chemopreventive agents, catechins scavenge free radicals; inhibit enzymes involved in cell replication and DNA synthesis; interfere with cell-to-cell contact adhesion; and inhibit various intracellular communication pathways required for cell division.

(Defined Green Tea Catechin Extract, NCI Thesaurus)

Any substance that inhibits cytidine deaminase, an enzyme that scavenges exogenous and endogenous cytidine and 2'-deoxycytidine for UMP synthesis.

(Cytidine Deaminase Inhibitor, NCI Thesaurus)

Hexylresorcinol may also inhibit oxidative DNA damage by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, which facilitate scavenging reactive oxygen molecules by glutathione (GSH).

(Hexylresorcinol, NCI Thesaurus)

Methionine is an essential amino acid in humans, whereas selenium is a free-radical scavenging anti-oxidant, essential for the protection of various tissues from the damages of lipid peroxidation.

(L-Selenomethionine, NCI Thesaurus)