Scavenger: meaning, definitions and examples

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scavenger

[ˈskæv.ən.dʒər ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

wildlife

An animal that feeds on dead or decaying organic matter.

Synonyms

cleaner, forager.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
scavenger	This term is often used to describe animals or people who search for and collect items that have been discarded by others. In a social context, it can carry a negative connotation when referring to people. Vultures are known as scavengers because they feed on dead animals. In post-apocalyptic stories, characters often become scavengers, looking for useful items among the ruins.
forager	This term is typically used to describe animals or people who search for food or provisions in the wild. It often carries a neutral or positive connotation. Bears are excellent foragers, often searching for berries and fish. In recent years, foraging for wild mushrooms and herbs has become a popular activity among nature enthusiasts.
cleaner	This is commonly used to refer to a person or tool that cleans, such as removing dirt or bacteria. It can also refer to animals that eat dead skin or parasites off other animals. The office cleaner works every evening after everyone has left. Some fish act as cleaners by eating parasites off larger fish.

Word

Description / Examples

scavenger

This term is often used to describe animals or people who search for and collect items that have been discarded by others. In a social context, it can carry a negative connotation when referring to people.

Vultures are known as scavengers because they feed on dead animals.
In post-apocalyptic stories, characters often become scavengers, looking for useful items among the ruins.

forager

This term is typically used to describe animals or people who search for food or provisions in the wild. It often carries a neutral or positive connotation.

Bears are excellent foragers, often searching for berries and fish.
In recent years, foraging for wild mushrooms and herbs has become a popular activity among nature enthusiasts.

cleaner

This is commonly used to refer to a person or tool that cleans, such as removing dirt or bacteria. It can also refer to animals that eat dead skin or parasites off other animals.

The office cleaner works every evening after everyone has left.
Some fish act as cleaners by eating parasites off larger fish.

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.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
scavenger	Scavenger is often used to describe animals or people who search through waste or decaying matter for food or useful items. It has a slight negative connotation when referring to people. The raccoon is a natural scavenger, often seen searching through trash bins. During tough times, some people turned into scavengers in order to survive.
crawler	Crawler typically refers to creatures or objects that move close to the ground, usually at a slow pace. It doesn't have a negative connotation. The baby is a fast crawler; she can get from one side of the room to the other in seconds. We saw a crawler in the garden, maybe it was a worm or a centipede.
spider	Spider generally refers to the eight-legged arachnids known for spinning webs. It can also be used metaphorically in the internet context to describe programs that crawl websites to gather information. There was a large spider in the corner of the room, spinning a web. Google uses spiders to index web pages on the internet.

Word

Description / Examples

scavenger

Scavenger is often used to describe animals or people who search through waste or decaying matter for food or useful items. It has a slight negative connotation when referring to people.

The raccoon is a natural scavenger, often seen searching through trash bins.
During tough times, some people turned into scavengers in order to survive.

crawler

Crawler typically refers to creatures or objects that move close to the ground, usually at a slow pace. It doesn't have a negative connotation.

The baby is a fast crawler; she can get from one side of the room to the other in seconds.
We saw a crawler in the garden, maybe it was a worm or a centipede.

spider

Spider generally refers to the eight-legged arachnids known for spinning webs. It can also be used metaphorically in the internet context to describe programs that crawl websites to gather information.

There was a large spider in the corner of the room, spinning a web.
Google uses spiders to index web pages on the internet.

Examples of usage

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

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Old North French 'scavengier,' which means to 'scavenge' or clean up.
Originally, the term described someone who collected rubbish, showing its link to tidying up spaces.

Ecology

Scavengers play a vital role in ecosystems by cleaning up dead animals, which helps prevent the spread of disease.
Common scavengers include vultures, raccoons, and certain types of insects, showing that many creatures benefit from leftovers.

Pop Culture

In movies like 'The Lion King,' characters like hyenas are portrayed as scavengers, often humorously represented as greedy and mischievous.
Video games sometimes feature scavenger characters who search for hidden items to survive, incorporating the concept into gameplay.

Psychology

Scavenging behavior can reveal humans' resourcefulness, as people often find value in things discarded by others.
Scavenger hunts have become popular as team-building activities, showcasing our enjoyment of seeking out hidden or lost items.

Literature

The concept of scavenging appears in literature, where characters often navigate through society's leftovers to find meaning or resources.
In various novels, scavengers symbolize resilience, as they thrive in conditions where others might struggle to survive.

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

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.

...
23566 fierceness
23567 patrolled
23568 brimmed
23569 scavenger
23570 swooped
23571 hark
23572 plodding
...