rescue
RESS-kyoo
/ˈrɛskjuː/
The act of saving someone or something from a dangerous, harmful, or life-threatening situation.
In working animal context, usually describes search-and-rescue (SAR) teams locating victims of disasters or wilderness lost events.
The story behind the word. From Old French 'rescorre', combining 're-' (again) and Latin 'excutere' (to shake loose or drive out). To rescue is literally to shake someone free from a dangerous trap or plight.
Word relationships
- salvage: Salvage usually applies to saving property or ships, whereas rescue applies directly to living beings in peril.
- abandonment: Leaving someone or something in danger or without help.
Commonly confused with
- recovery: Rescue seeks living survivors in emergency settings, whereas recovery refers to retrieving remains or property after an event.
Word family
- rescuer (noun): A person or animal performing a rescue.
Collocations
- search and rescue
- rescue dog
- rescue mission
- rescue team
Idioms & expressions
- come to the rescue
Example sentences
- "Urban search and rescue teams deployed trained canines to locate survivors trapped under collapsed concrete structures." Earthquake emergency response
- "Newfoundland dogs are famous for water rescue operations, capable of swimming long distances to tow distressed swimmers." Maritime life-saving operation
Memory hook
RESCUE team RUSHES in to SAVE you from danger. Rescue = Saving lives from danger.
When not to use
Avoid confusing 'rescue dog' (a dog saved from a shelter) with a 'search-and-rescue dog' (a dog trained to perform emergency missions), though context clarifies.
Fun facts
- Search and rescue dogs work so hard for praise that handlers will sometimes hide in rubble to let the dog 'find' them so it stays motivated.
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