ENGLISH
REFERENCE

salvage

v. · n.
US //ˈsæɫvədʒ// UK //sˈælvɪdʒ// sal·vage
  1. 1 to rescue property (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to save something from a fire, a wreck, or a bad situation so it can be used again.

    to rescue property from potential destruction, such as a shipwreck or fire, to prevent total loss. Transitive; requires a direct object.

    Example

    The divers managed to salvage several gold coins from the sunken ship.

    Example

    After the warehouse fire, the owners spent weeks trying to salvage any equipment that hadn't been damaged by smoke or water.
  2. 2 to save a situation (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    to try to fix a bad situation or relationship so it is not a total failure.

    to preserve or recover something intangible, such as a reputation or a relationship, from failure or ruin.

    Example

    He tried to salvage his reputation by apologizing for his mistakes.

    Example

    The legal team worked tirelessly to salvage the merger after the lead investor unexpectedly withdrew their financial backing.
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  1. 3 rescued items (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Law

    the things that are saved from a disaster, or the act of saving them.

    the act of rescuing a ship or its cargo from peril; also refers to the property so rescued or the compensation paid for the rescue.

    Example

    The company sold the salvage from the wreck to a scrap metal dealer.

    Example

    Under maritime law, the crew was entitled to a significant portion of the salvage after bringing the abandoned vessel safely to port.
  2. 4 recycled materials (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    parts of old buildings or cars that are taken away to be sold and used again.

    materials or components recovered from discarded items for the purpose of reuse or recycling.

    Example

    We went to a salvage yard to find a door for our old house.

    Example

    The architect incorporated architectural salvage into the new design, using reclaimed timber and vintage light fixtures to add character.
Etymology 1

From Old French salver (see also save, from a variant form), from Late Latin salvare (“to make safe, secure, save”), from Latin salvus (“safe”) with the English suffix -age.

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Etymology 3

Borrowed from Spanish salvaje, from Catalan salvatge, from Late Latin *salvāticus, alteration of Latin silvāticus (“wild”, literally “of the woods”). Confused false friends; English salvage and Tagalog salbahe (“mischievous, naughty”).

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