Cannibalize

Pronunciation: /ˈkænəbəˌlaɪz/

Cannibalize (verb)

  1. To take parts from something you already have and use them to repair or build something else.
  2. For one business or product to reduce the sales of another one owned by the same company.
  3. To use up something’s resources so completely that it becomes weaker or stops working.

Examples

  • The technician cannibalize a broken unit for spare parts.
  • We cannibalize old devices to repair the newer ones.