I. (ˌ)rē-ˈsī-kəl
Date: 1926
transitive verb
1. : to pass again through a series of changes or treatments: as
a. : to process (as liquid body waste, glass, or cans) in order to regain material for human use
b. : recover 6
c. : to reuse or make (a substance) available for reuse for biological activities through natural processes of biochemical degradation or modification
green plants recycling the residue of forest fires
recycle ADP back to ATP
2. : to adapt to a new use : alter
3. : to bring back : reuse
recycle s a number of good anecdotes — Larry McMurtry
4. : to make ready for reuse
a plan to recycle vacant tenements
intransitive verb
1. : to return to an earlier point in a countdown
2. : to return to an original condition so that operation can begin again — used of an electronic device
• re·cy·cla·bil·i·ty -ˌsī-k(ə-)lə-ˈbi-lə-tē noun
• re·cy·cla·ble -ˈsī-k(ə-)lə-bəl adjective or noun
• re·cy·cler -k(ə-)lər noun
II. noun
Date: 1926
: the process of recycling