recycle

[ ree-sahy-kuh l ]

/ riˈsaɪ kəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR recycle ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), re·cy·cled, re·cy·cling.

to treat or process (used or waste materials) so as to make suitable for reuse: recycling paper to save trees.

to alter or adapt for new use without changing the essential form or nature of: The old factory is being recycled as a theater.

to use again in the original form or with minimal alteration: The governor recycled some speeches from his early days.

to cause to pass through a cycle again: to recycle laundry through a washing machine.

verb (used without object), re·cy·cled, re·cy·cling.

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

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

the act or process of recycling.

Nearby words

recurved, recusal, recusancy, recusant, recuse, recycle, recycling, red, red admiral, red alder, red alert

Origin of recycle

First recorded in 1925–30; re- + cycle

Related forms

re·cy·cla·ble, adjectivere·cy·cla·bil·i·ty, nounre·cy·cler, re·cy·clist, nounnon·re·cy·cla·ble, adjective

un·re·cy·cled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for recycle

Meanwhile, Keira Knightley was not the first to recycle her dress.
Here Comes the Bride…In Flaming Red: Two Centuries of Colorful Wedding Dresses|Liza Foreman|May 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They feature custom wallpaper, system sounds, and desktop icons for My Computer, Recycle Bin, and Network Neighborhood.
Homestar Runner, Trogdor the Burninator, and the Birth of the Internet|Rich Goldstein|April 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are about 30 billion in the world, and it is inefficient to recycle them.
Wood Cards Are a Green Alternative to the Classic Plastic Gift Card|Daniel Gross|November 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The EPA has a module on its site to help consumers donate or recycle their old devices.
ecoATM offers consumers a new way to sell used cell phones and electronic devices|Sarah Langs|September 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Simply asking tenants to be considerate of the staff has helped increase their tendency to recycle.
Why Michael Bloomberg’s Composting Plan Stinks for Supers|Samantha Guff|June 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The effort to recycle (art or literature) is part of the same co-writing strategy.
The Civilization of Illiteracy|Mihai Nadin

British Dictionary definitions for recycle

recycle

/ (riːˈsaɪkəl) /

verb (tr)

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

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

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

to repeat (a series of operations)

noun

the repetition of a fixed sequence of events

Derived Forms

recyclable or recycleable, adjective, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012