1.reclaim的基本意思是“开垦”“垦殖”,指通过努力把荒芜的土地和恶劣的环境进行改造,使其有用处或变得更好,引申可表示“改造(人)”“改正(某种错误)”,即对偏离了正轨的人、罪人、恶棍或堕落者进行改造使其成为正派的、讲道德的人。reclaim还可作“收回”解,可指取回临时寄存的物品,也可指从废弃物品中回收有用的东西。
2.reclaim是及物动词,接名词或代词作宾语。

reclaim from(v.+prep.)
▲reclaim sb/sth from sth
1.从…开垦,从…开拓 save, bring (land) back to use after having been made unsuitable for crops because of (water or lack of water)
The new nation is hoping to reclaim much of its land from the desert.这个新建立的国家希望从沙漠中开垦出许多土地。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
Many square miles of land in this low-lying country have been reclaimed from the sea.这个低地国家已经填海开拓出许多平方英里的土地。
2.把(某人)从(某种不良生活方式)中拯救出来 save (sb) from (a bad way of life)
The Church has reclaimed many men from a life of crime.教会已经把许多人从犯罪的生涯中拯救出来。
◇ 用于be ～ed结构
Many sufferers have been reclaimed from a dependence on alcohol.许多嗜酒成癖的受害者已经被挽救过来。

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
They reclaimed wasteland.他们开垦荒地。
The farmer reclaimed the swamp by draining it.农民通过排涝来开垦那块沼泽地。
He reclaimed her from a life of vice.他使她改邪归正。
Society reclaims criminals by teaching them skills.社会通过教授罪犯技能来改造他们。
He had no right to take your book away, so reclaim it.他无权拿走你的书,所以要把书要回来。
The library reclaimed the book he borrowed a year ago.图书馆要求他归还一年前借去的那本书。
At the end of the trip we reclaimed our luggage.旅行结束时,我们取回了行李。

reclaim, recoup, recover, recruit, retrieve
参见recover条。