reclaim

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to make land like a desert or a swamp good enough for farming or building.

v. to bring uncultivated or flooded land into a condition suitable for cultivation or habitation.

“The city plans to reclaim the old industrial site and turn it into a park.”

“The Dutch have spent centuries reclaiming land from the sea through an intricate system of dikes and pumps.”

C1 · Advanced Sociology Academic

v. to take a word that was used as an insult and start using it with pride.

v. to reappropriate a derogatory term for use as a positive self-identifier by the group it was originally used against.

“Many groups have worked to reclaim words that were once used to hurt them.”

“The community sought to reclaim the slur, transforming it from a tool of oppression into a symbol of collective pride and resistance.”

C1 · Advanced Science Technical

v. to get useful materials out of waste or old products.

v. to obtain useful substances or materials from waste products or discarded items.

“The factory uses a special process to reclaim rubber from old tyres.”

“Advanced chemical processes allow technicians to reclaim precious metals from discarded electronic components with high efficiency.”

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun British English

n. the place at an airport where you pick up your bags after a flight.

n. the area in an airport or station where arriving passengers collect their checked luggage.

“I will meet you near the exit of the baggage reclaim.”

“After passing through passport control, passengers should proceed directly to reclaim to identify their suitcases.”