catador; apanhador; animal necrófago
1. an animal that feeds on carrion or refuse
Vultures are scavengers that clean up dead animals.
Os abutres são necrófagos que limpam animais mortos.
2. a person who searches through waste or discarded items to find useful materials
The scavenger collected recyclable materials from the dump.
O catador recolheu materiais recicláveis do lixão.
3. a street cleaner or sanitation worker
The city employed scavengers to keep the streets clean.
A cidade empregava catadores para manter as ruas limpas.
4. a person participating in a scavenger hunt
Each scavenger on the team had a list of items to find.
Cada participante da caça ao tesouro tinha uma lista de itens para encontrar.
In Brazil, 'catador' refers to an important socioeconomic group involved in waste collection and recycling. These workers, though often marginalized, play a crucial role in urban recycling systems. In the USA, 'scavenger hunt' is a popular party game for children. The term also carries historical connotations in colonial India where it referred to an oppressed caste, so sensitivity is advised in certain contexts.
NYC Slang
dumpster diver; trash picker
Related Idioms & Phrases
scavenger hunt - a game where participants search for hidden items on a list
live like a scavenger - to survive by collecting scraps or discarded items
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