Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Blend of up and recycle

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Examples

  • Closet Swap encourages teens who will mostly be girls to share and 'upcycle' clothes between friends, rather than relying on cheap, semi-disposable fashion that often targets teenagers with limited funds.

    Isn't Channel 4 Education worth more than £5m? Jemima Kiss 2010

  • A little late, but if you still have those yellow pages, this might be a way to "upcycle" them:

    Laminate them and turn them into bedside tables Lisa B. 2009

  • Vancouver, British Columbia-based designer Ashley Watson scours thrift stores for leather to "upcycle" into her bags and accessories.

    Fast Company Anne C. Lee 2010

  • You can transform an ugly piece of fabric into a usable one - paint, dye, bleach and more are great ways to "upcycle" fabric.

    Blisstree 2009

  • You can transform an ugly piece of fabric into a usable one - paint, dye, bleach and more are great ways to "upcycle" fabric.

    Blisstree 2009

  • You can transform an ugly piece of fabric into a usable one - paint, dye, bleach and more are great ways to "upcycle" fabric.

    Blisstree 2009

  • You can transform an ugly piece of fabric into a usable one - paint, dye, bleach and more are great ways to "upcycle" fabric.

    Blisstree 2009

  • You can transform an ugly piece of fabric into a usable one - paint, dye, bleach and more are great ways to "upcycle" fabric.

    Blisstree 2009

  • You can transform an ugly piece of fabric into a usable one - paint, dye, bleach and more are great ways to "upcycle" fabric.

    Blisstree 2009

  • You can transform an ugly piece of fabric into a usable one - paint, dye, bleach and more are great ways to "upcycle" fabric.

    Blisstree 2009

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