Link Centre Dictionary

conserve

con·serve

UK/kənˈsɜː(ɹ)v/ US/kʌˈnsɜrv/ uncommon obsolete
noun (1) verb (4)

noun

1.

verb

1.

keep constant through physical or chemical reactions or evolutionary change

  • “Energy is conserved in this process”
2.

keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction

  • “We preserve these archeological findings”
  • “The old lady could not keep up the building”
  • “children must be taught to conserve our national heritage”
  • “The museum curator conserved the ancient manuscripts”
Synonyms
3.

use cautiously and frugally

  • “I try to economize my spare time”
  • “conserve your energy for the ascent to the summit”
Synonyms
Antonyms
4.

preserve with sugar

  • “Mom always conserved the strawberries we grew in the backyard”

Origin

From Middle English conserven, from Old French conserver, from Latin conservare (“to keep, preserve”), from com- (intensive prefix) + servo (“keep watch, maintain”). See also observe.

Phrases

  • conserved sequence

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.