<p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used with object)<ul><li>rescued, rescuing.</li><li>to free or deliver from confinement, danger, or difficulty:<ul><li>She rescued me from an awkward conversation.</li><li>The police were able to rescue the hostages in time.</li></ul></li><li>Synonyms:<ul><li>salvage, recover, extricate, ransom, redeem, save, release, liberate, emancipate.</li></ul></li><li>Law:<ul><li>to liberate or take by forcible or illegal means from lawful custody.</li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>the act of rescuing.<ul><li>Synonyms:<ul><li>emancipation, redemption, release, deliverance, liberation.</li></ul></li><li>the act of rescuing animals from danger, abuse, or neglect, as the adoption of stray and abandoned animals from an animal shelter, or the protection of wild animals in an animal sanctuary:<ul><li>Animal rescue requires cooperation between animal control agencies and shelters.</li></ul></li><li>a group or organization that participates in such animal welfare activities:<ul><li>breed-specific rescues.</li></ul></li><li>a domestic animal adopted from an animal shelter or other animal welfare group:<ul><li>Our new puppy is a rescue!</li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Adjective</strong></p><ul><li>of or relating to someone or something trained or equipped to rescue:<ul><li>The county's three certified rescue dogs and their handlers searched for earthquake survivors in the rubble.</li></ul></li><li>of or relating to a domestic animal adopted or available for adoption from an animal shelter or other animal welfare group:<ul><li>rescue puppies and kittens looking for loving families.</li></ul></li></ul>