scavenge
verb
scav·enge ˈska-vənj 
-vinj
scavenged; scavenging
transitive verb
1
a(1)
: to remove (dirt, refuse, etc.) from an area
(2)
: to clean away dirt or refuse from : cleanse
scavenge a street
b
: to feed on (carrion or refuse)
2
a
: to remove (burned gases) from the cylinder of an internal combustion engine after a working stroke
b
: to remove (something, such as an undesirable constituent) from a substance or region by chemical or physical means
c
: to clean and purify (molten metal) by taking up foreign elements in chemical union
3
: to salvage from discarded or refuse material
also : to salvage usable material from
intransitive verb
: to work or act as a scavenger
Example Sentences
Rats scavenged in the trash. The bears scavenged the woods for food. He scavenged the town dump for automobile parts.
Recent Examples on the Web As with all your electronics, be sure to choose options that can recharge via your solar setup, or run on batteries that are easy to scavenge for (AA and AAA). 
Outside Online, 21 June 2022 The applicator tube had first washed up ashore, part of the many tons of seaborne trash that Riley, a Brooklyn artist known to scavenge New York’s waterways for materials and inspiration, has collected over the years. New York Times, 16 June 2022 Players must locate and scavenge their own weapons, vehicles and supplies, and defeat rivals in a steadily shrinking play zone. Todd Spangler, Variety, 31 May 2022 Russia is being forced to scavenge for components from home appliances in order to keep its military hardware functioning. Matthew Humphries, PCMAG, 13 May 2022 Travelers ready for a treasure hunt can slap on some sunscreen and scavenge the beach for the wide variety of gorgeous shells. Jessica Poitevien, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2022 Ukrainian officials said the attack Wednesday at a medical complex in Mariupol, where a siege has forced residents to scavenge for food and water, killed three people, including a girl, and wounded at least 17 people. Evgeniy Maloletka, ajc, 10 Mar. 2022 Days of shelling have largely cut residents of the southern city of Mariupol off from the outside world and forced them to scavenge for food and water. Yuras Karmanau, chicagotribune.com, 9 Mar. 2022 Wolves scavenge, and their diet includes birds and such small mammals as rabbits, beavers, and squirrels. Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2022 See More
Outside Online, 21 June 2022 The applicator tube had first washed up ashore, part of the many tons of seaborne trash that Riley, a Brooklyn artist known to scavenge New York’s waterways for materials and inspiration, has collected over the years. New York Times, 16 June 2022 Players must locate and scavenge their own weapons, vehicles and supplies, and defeat rivals in a steadily shrinking play zone. Todd Spangler, Variety, 31 May 2022 Russia is being forced to scavenge for components from home appliances in order to keep its military hardware functioning. Matthew Humphries, PCMAG, 13 May 2022 Travelers ready for a treasure hunt can slap on some sunscreen and scavenge the beach for the wide variety of gorgeous shells. Jessica Poitevien, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2022 Ukrainian officials said the attack Wednesday at a medical complex in Mariupol, where a siege has forced residents to scavenge for food and water, killed three people, including a girl, and wounded at least 17 people. Evgeniy Maloletka, ajc, 10 Mar. 2022 Days of shelling have largely cut residents of the southern city of Mariupol off from the outside world and forced them to scavenge for food and water. Yuras Karmanau, chicagotribune.com, 9 Mar. 2022 Wolves scavenge, and their diet includes birds and such small mammals as rabbits, beavers, and squirrels. Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
back-formation from scavenger
First Known Use
circa 1644, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)
Kids Definition
scavenge
verb
scav·enge ˈska-vənj
scavenged; scavenging
: to search through and collect usable items especially from what has been thrown away