recycle

American  

[ree-sahy-kuhl] / riˈsaɪ kəl /

verb (used with object)

recycled, recycling

1. to treat or process (used or waste materials) so as to make suitable for reuse.

   recycling paper to save trees.

2. to alter or adapt for new use without changing the essential form or nature of.

   The old factory is being recycled as a theater.

3. to use again in the original form or with minimal alteration.

   The governor recycled some speeches from his early days.

4. to cause to pass through a cycle again.

   to recycle laundry through a washing machine.

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verb (used without object)

recycled, recycling

1. to pass through a cycle again; repeat a process from the beginning.

2. to undergo reuse or renewal; be subject to or suitable for further use, activity, etc..

   The industry will recycle and become profitable once more.

noun

1. the act or process of recycling.

recycle British  

/ riːˈsaɪkəl /

verb

1. to pass (a substance) through a system again for further treatment or use

2. to reclaim (packaging or products with a limited useful life) for further use

3. to institute a different cycle of processes or events in (a machine, system, etc)

4. to repeat (a series of operations)

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noun

1. the repetition of a fixed sequence of events

Other Word Forms

• nonrecyclable adjective
• recyclability noun
• recyclable adjective
• recycler noun
• recyclist noun
• unrecycled adjective

Etymology

Origin of recycle

First recorded in 1925–30; re- + cycle

Example Sentences

These producer responsibility laws emphasize the idea of “circular economy”: that the producer of a material must consider its fate — making sure it can be reused or recycled, or at least reduced.

From Los Angeles Times

Explaining why customers further afield will be asked to recycle the bottles instead of returning them, Hartwig adds: "If the people purchasing them are from a different state, it's very unlikely they'll bring them back."

From BBC

Tens of millions of items of clothing are thrown away each year, and the synthetic materials often used by fast fashion retailers are among the hardest to recycle.

From BBC

Food waste is not separated or recycled, but instead is put down the same chute.

From BBC

Adam Herriott, a senior sector specialist for sustainability charity Wrap, said the idea was to enable everyone to recycle the same material, "no matter where in England you are".

From BBC

Related Words

• convert