Scavenger: meaning, definitions and examples

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scavenger

 

[ ˈskæv.ən.dʒər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

wildlife

An animal that feeds on dead or decaying organic matter.

Synonyms

cleaner, forager

Examples of usage

  • Vultures are known as scavengers for their diet of carrion.
  • Raccoons are opportunistic scavengers, feeding on a variety of food sources.
Context #2 | Noun

technology

A program or tool used to search for and extract information from various sources on the internet.

Synonyms

crawler, spider

Examples of usage

  • The internet scavenger quickly gathers data from multiple websites.
  • Students use a scavenger hunt app to find specific information online.

Translations

Translations of the word "scavenger" in other languages:

🇵🇹 catador

🇮🇳 कबाड़ी

🇩🇪 Plünderer

🇮🇩 pemulung

🇺🇦 падальник

🇵🇱 padlinożerca

🇯🇵 スカベンジャー

🇫🇷 charognard

🇪🇸 carroñero

🇹🇷 leş yiyici

🇰🇷 청소부

🇸🇦 قمام

🇨🇿 mrchožrout

🇸🇰 mrchožrút

🇨🇳 食腐动物

🇸🇮 mrhovina

🇮🇸 hrææta

🇰🇿 өлексе жегіш

🇬🇪 ნაგვის მომპოვებელი

🇦🇿 leş yeyən

🇲🇽 carroñero

Etymology

The word 'scavenger' originated from the Middle English word 'skawager' which meant a customs collector. Over time, the meaning evolved to refer to animals that feed on dead organisms. In modern times, 'scavenger' is also used in technological contexts to describe tools that search for information.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,569, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.