From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsalvagesal‧vage1 /ˈsælvɪdʒ/ verb [transitive] 1 SAVE/RESCUEto save something from an accident or bad situation in which other things have already been damaged, destroyed, or lost Divers hope to salvage some of the ship’s cargo.salvage something from something They managed to salvage only a few of their belongings from the fire.2 SAVE/RESCUEto make sure that you do not lose something completely, or to make sure that something does not fail completely SYN save He fought to salvage the company’s reputation.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
salvage• Some observers doubt whether the peace process can be salvaged.• A huge fire blazed outside on which we piled everything that could not be salvaged.• The fire had destroyed most of the building, but we managed to salvage a few valuable items.• Retailing and tourism can't salvage an ailing economy.• Retailing and tourism can't salvage an ailing economy.• Beginning Sunday, fish bag-limit restrictions will be lifted at four lakes so that anglers can salvage fish that may be lost.• The house was built of timber salvaged from an earlier building.• Some 25 pounds of enriched uranium were apparently salvaged from Osirak.• The one real consolation that could be salvaged from the whole sorry affair was that the system had worked in the end.• If you no longer care for your partner, it is time to ask what can be salvaged from your relationship.• She could never hope to rescue her heart, but at least she could salvage her pride.• The company is busy trying to salvage its core business.• Only something dramatic can salvage the promise he once showed, and Norris knows he can not do it alone.• I see you've salvaged your sleeping-bag, Mr Parsons.salvage something from something• They stood clutching the possessions they had salvaged from their homes.salvagesalvage2 noun [uncountable] 1 SAVE/RESCUEwhen you save things from a situation in which other things have already been damaged, destroyed, or lost a massive salvage operation2 SAVE/RESCUEthings that have been saved from an accident, especially when a ship has sunkExamples from the Corpus
salvage• It was argued that the fierce weather which had prevented a salvage operation also helped break up the oil.• When the review is completed, the injunction could be lifted, and salvage logging could begin in the Southwest, too.• How does the archaeologist set about locating sites, other than through documentary sources and salvage work?• We walk through this user-friendly dump, exchanging salvage stories.• The probe focuses on vehicles that were intended to be stripped for salvage by the Arizona Department of Corrections.• What is going on in salvage timber sales.• We found the statue in a local salvage yard.• The growth of salvage work also leads us to ask: Who today actually are the searchers in archaeology?• The developers have planned for the salvage and reuse of the building's decorations.• If the salvage is worthwhile then this should be taken up and disposed of to the highest bidder.salvage operation• It was argued that the fierce weather which had prevented a salvage operation also helped break up the oil.• The changes in ownership by salvage operation between franchise rounds have already been mentioned.• A massive salvage operation was undertaken.• The more dramatic was the salvage operation.• On important archaeological sites torn up by windblown salvage operations were carried out.From Longman Business Dictionarysalvagesal‧vage /ˈsælvɪdʒ/ verb [transitive]1to save goods or property from a situation in which things have already been damaged or destroyedUnsuccessful attempts were made to salvage the ship immediately after it sank.2if someone salvages a deal when there have been serious disagreements and problems about it, they find a way to make people accept itHe salvaged a last-minute deal to sell the state’s interests in the bank. —salvage noun [uncountable]→ See Verb tableOrigin salvage2 (1600-1700) French Old French salver; → SAVE1 