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Definition of preserve - 4 dictionary results

pre⋅serve

  [pri-zurv] verb, -served, -serv⋅ing, noun
Use preserve in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to keep alive or in existence; make lasting: to preserve our liberties as free citizens.
2. to keep safe from harm or injury; protect or spare.
3. to keep up; maintain: to preserve historical monuments.
4. to keep possession of; retain: to preserve one's composure.
5. to prepare (food or any perishable substance) so as to resist decomposition or fermentation.
6. to prepare (fruit, vegetables, etc.) by cooking with sugar, pickling, canning, or the like.
7. to maintain and reserve (game, fish, etc.) for continued survival or for private use, as in hunting or fishing.
–verb (used without object)
8. to preserve fruit, vegetables, etc.; make preserves.
9. to maintain a preserve for game or fish, esp. for sport.
–noun
10. something that preserves.
11. that which is preserved.
12. Usually, preserves. fruit, vegetables, etc., prepared by cooking with sugar.
13. a place set apart for protection and propagation of game or fish, esp. for sport.
Origin:
1325–75; ME preserven < ML praeservāre to guard (LL: to observe), equiv. to L prae- pre- + servāre to watch over, keep, preserve, observe

Related forms:
pre⋅serv⋅a⋅ble, adjective
pre⋅serv⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
pres⋅er⋅va⋅tion  [prez-er-vey-shuhn] , noun
pre⋅serv⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. conserve. 2. safeguard, shelter, shield. See defend. 3. continue, uphold, sustain.

Antonyms:
1. destroy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To preserve
pre·serve   (prĭ-zûrv')   
v.   pre·served, pre·serv·ing, pre·serves

v.   tr.

  1. To maintain in safety from injury, peril, or harm; protect.

  2. To keep in perfect or unaltered condition; maintain unchanged.

  3. To keep or maintain intact: tried to preserve family harmony. See Synonyms at defend.

  4. To prepare (food) for future use, as by canning or salting.

  5. To prevent (organic bodies) from decaying or spoiling.

  6. To keep or protect (game or fish) for one's private hunting or fishing.

v.   intr.

  1. To treat fruit or other foods so as to prevent decay.

  2. To maintain a private area stocked with game or fish.

n.  

  1. Something that acts to preserve; a preservative.

  2. Fruit cooked with sugar to protect against decay or fermentation. Often used in the plural.

  3. An area maintained for the protection of wildlife or natural resources.

  4. Something considered as being the exclusive province of certain persons: Ancient Greek is the preserve of scholars.


[Middle English preserven, from Old French preserver, from Medieval Latin praeservāre, from Late Latin, to observe beforehand : Latin prae-, pre- + Latin servāre, to guard, preserve; see ser-1 in Indo-European roots.]
pre·serv'a·bil'i·ty n., pre·serv'a·ble adj., pres'er·va'tion (prěz'ər-vā'shən) n., pre·serv'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: pre·serve
Pronunciation: pri-'z&rv
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: pre·served; pre·serv·ing
1 : to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction preserve the property>
2 a : to keep valid, intact, or in existence (as pending a proceeding) preserved —U.S. Constitution amendment VII> preserved in the case —J. H. Williamson> b : to maintain for use or consideration at a later time esp. by keeping a record of preserve her testimony> preserving the objection raised —J. H. Friedenthal et al.> —pres·er·va·tion /"pre-z&r-'vA-sh&n/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pre·serve
Pronunciation: pri-'z&rv
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: pre·served; pre·serv·ing
1 : to keep alive, intact, or free from decay
2 : to keep or save from decomposition
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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