Link Centre Dictionary

preserve

pre·serve

UK/pɹəˈzɜːv/ US/pɹəˈzɝv/ fairly common
verb (6) noun (3)

verb

1.

keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last

  • “preserve the peace in the family”
  • “continue the family tradition”
  • “Carry on the old traditions”
Synonyms
Antonyms
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.

to keep up and reserve for personal or special use

  • “She saved the old family photographs in a drawer”
Synonyms
4.

prevent (food) from rotting

  • “preserved meats”
  • “keep potatoes fresh”
Synonyms
5.

maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger

  • “May God keep you”
Synonyms
6.

keep undisturbed for personal or private use for hunting, shooting, or fishing

  • “preserve the forest and the lakes”

noun

1.

a domain that seems to be specially reserved for someone

  • “medicine is no longer a male preserve”
2.

a reservation where animals are protected

3.

Origin

From Middle English preserven, from Old French preserver, from Medieval Latin prēservāre (“keep, preserve”), from Late Latin praeservāre (“guard beforehand”), from prae (“before”, adverb) + servāre (“maintain, keep”). Displaced native Old English nerian.

Phrases

  • game preserve
  • God preserve us
  • natural preserve
  • preserving glass
  • preserving pan
  • shooting preserve

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

Related verbs

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.