Recycle
/ˌriːˈsaɪ.kəl/noun
To process used materials so they can be used again, or to use something again in a repeated cycle.
Did you know?The core of recycle goes back to Greek kyklos, “circle,” the same ancient root behind words like cycle and encyclopedia, so the word carries the idea of forced return rather than simple reuse.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GRK
kyklos
“circle, wheel”
Late Latin
LAT
re- + cyclus
“again + circle, cycle”
19th Century
English
recycle
“to subject to a repeated cycle or process again”
20th Century
English
recycle
“to process waste materials for reuse”