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upcycle

verb
/ˈʌpsaɪk(ə)l/US

Etymology

Blend of up- + recycle or possibly upgrade + recycle.

  1. derived from *kʷékʷlos✻
  2. derived from κύκλος
  3. derived from cyclus
  4. inherited from cicle — “fixed length period of years”
  5. prefixed as recycle — “re + cycle”
  6. compounded as upcycle — “up- + recycle”

Definitions

  1. To convert (waste materials, etc.) into new materials or products of higher quality and…

    To convert (waste materials, etc.) into new materials or products of higher quality and greater functionality.

    • Recycling in many cases means "downcycling" – in particular cases, however, it can also mean "upcycling".

  2. To promote into a more productive or useful role.

    • "[...] We are upcycling the trains we have, to ensure they last longer and give a better service."

  3. A period of a cycle where something is increasing or improving.

    • The upcycle has lasted so long that many economists even doubt the old cycle theories. Others try to label the lull in 1962 and again this year as the downcycles.
    • Over the past decade Cambodia has made considerable strides, achieving sustained growth and poverty reduction, aided in part by the global upcycle.

The neighborhood

Derived

upcycled, upcycling

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for upcycle. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA