Definition of Scavenger

1. Noun. A chemical agent that is added to a chemical mixture to counteract the effects of impurities.

Generic synonyms: Chemical Agent
Derivative terms: Scavenge

2. Noun. Someone who collects things that have been discarded by others.
Exact synonyms: Magpie, Pack Rat
Generic synonyms: Hoarder
Derivative terms: Scavenge

3. Noun. Any animal that feeds on refuse and other decaying organic matter.
Generic synonyms: Animal, Animate Being, Beast, Brute, Creature, Fauna
Specialized synonyms: Bottom-feeder
Derivative terms: Scavenge

Definition of Scavenger

1. n. A person whose employment is to clean the streets of a city, by scraping or sweeping, and carrying off the filth. The name is also applied to any animal which devours refuse, carrion, or anything injurious to health.

Definition of Scavenger

1. Noun. (obsolete) A street sweeper. ¹

2. Noun. Someone who scavenges, especially one who searches through rubbish for food or useful things. ¹

3. Noun. An animal that feeds on decaying matter such as carrion. ¹

4. Noun. (chemistry) A substance used to remove impurities from the air or from a solution. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Scavenger

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Scavenger

1. An animal (such as a vulture or coyote) that eats carcasses abandoned by predators, digs through trash cans for food, etc., true scavengers seldom kill their own prey (but many animals are not exclusively scavengers). (09 Oct 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Scavenger

scaupers
scauping
scaups
scaur
scaured
scauries
scauring
scaurs
scaury
scavage
scavager
scavagers
scavages
scavenge
scavenged
scavenger's daughter
scavenger's daughters
scavenger cell
scavenger hunt
scavenger hunts
scavengers
scavenges
scavenging
scaw
scaws
scawtite
scawtites
scazon
scazons

Literary usage of Scavenger

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Ceylon: An Account of the Island Physical, Historical and Topographical by James Emerson Tennent (1859)
"... exhibit hues of green and blue, that rival the deepest tints of the emerald and sapphire. scavenger Beetles. ..."

2. Ceylon: An Account of the Island, Physical, Historical, and Topographical by James Emerson Tennent (1860)
"scavenger Beetles. — - scavenger beetles 2 are to be seen wherever the presence of putrescent and offensive matter affords opportunity for the display of ..."

3. The Life of North American Insects by Benedict Jaeger, Henry C. Preston (1859)
"scavenger Beetles. The body of most all of the scavenger Beetles is very hard, and their feet very strong, adapted for digging. They deposit their eggs in ..."

4. Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa: Including a Sketch of by David Livingstone (1858)
"scavenger Beetle.—Continued Hostility of the Boers.—The Journey north.—Preparations.—Fellow-travelers.—The Kalahari Desert.—Vegetation.— Watermelons. ..."

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