salvage
Rescue from ruin
Salvage is the rescue of property from destruction or loss—especially ships, cargo, or wreckage from the sea.
The word extends to saving anything from ruin: salvage operations recovered documents from the flooded basement.
To salvage a situation is to preserve what value remains after damage: She tried to salvage her reputation.
Salvage also names what's been saved—materials recovered for reuse: The yard sells automotive salvage.
Destroyed vessel at sea
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- wreckDestroyed vessel or vehicle
- flotsamDebris from wrecked vessels
- jetsamGoods deliberately discarded at sea
sunken · derelict · hulk · carcass · remains · remnants · ruins · scraps
Take back possession
- retrieveGet something back
- recoverRegain health or possession
- reclamationRecovery of something lost
- retrievalAct of getting back
restoration · repossess · extract · extricate · raise · tow · haul · collect
Return to earlier state
- refurbishRestore worn items
- rebuildRestore after damage
- renovateRestore to good condition
- reconstructBuild again from remains
repair · rehabilitate · recondition · overhaul · refit · fix · mend · patch
Adapt for new use
- upcycleCreatively reuse discarded materials
- recycleProcess for renewed use
- reclaimTake back possession
- scrapDiscarded bit or tussle
parts · materials · components · metal · scrapyard · junkyard · secondhand · reprocess
Human-made historical objects
- relicsPreserved items from antiquity
- antiquitiesHistorical objects from ages past
- goldElement seventy-nine
- cargoTransported goods
galleon · archaeology · excavation · discovery · historical · valuables · hoard · coins
shipwreck
Destroyed vessel at sea
jetsam · sunken · derelict · hulk · carcass · remains · remnants · ruins · scraps · vessel
reclaim
Take back possession
- retrieveGet something back
- recoverRegain health or possession
- reclamationRecovery of something lost
retrieval · restoration · repossess · extract · extricate · raise · tow · haul · collect · gather
restore
Return to earlier state
reconstruct · repair · rehabilitate · recondition · overhaul · refit · fix · mend · patch · renew
repurpose
Adapt for new use
- upcycleCreatively reuse discarded materials
- recycleProcess for renewed use
- reclaimTake back possession
scrap · parts · materials · components · metal · scrapyard · junkyard · secondhand · reprocess · circular
artifacts
Human-made historical objects
- relicsPreserved items from antiquity
- antiquitiesHistorical objects from ages past
- goldElement seventy-nine
cargo · galleon · archaeology · excavation · discovery · historical · valuables · hoard · coins · bullion
last-ditch
Final desperate attempt
desperate · remnant · makeshift · improvise · resourcefulness · ingenuity · survival
claim
Statement of ownership or truth
compensation · insurance · adjuster · appraisal · contract · award · proceeds · value · entitlement · lien
- wreckagedebris, wreckage, rubble, remains, remnants
- maritime studiesseamanship, marine navigation, oceanography, hydrography, celestial navigation
- salvagesalvor, refloating, refloat, reclaim, recover
- maritime lawmaritime piracy, admiralty, law of the sea, towage, demurrage
- Deconstructionteardown, deconstruction, dismantling, disassembly, take apart
- maritimeships, ship, boat, boats, anchors
- salvage operationRetrieval of damaged goods
- Salvation ArmyChristian charitable organization
- The Salvation ArmyReligious charitable organization
- salvage yardBusiness selling recovered materials
- auto salvageReclaiming usable car parts
- eternal salvationEndless rescue of soul
salvation, salvaged, salvaging, salvages, salvageable, salvager, unsalvageable, salvagers, unsalvaged