| reserve (rɪˈzɜːv) |
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| —vb |
| 1. | to keep back or set aside, esp for future use or contingency; withhold |
| 2. | to keep for oneself; retain: I reserve the right to question these men later |
| 3. | to obtain or secure by advance arrangement: I have reserved two tickets for tonight's show |
| 4. | to delay delivery of (a judgment), esp in order to allow time for full consideration of the issues involved |
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| —n |
| 5. | a. something kept back or set aside, esp for future use or contingency |
| | b. (as modifier): a reserve stock |
| 6. | the state or condition of being reserved: I have plenty in reserve |
| 7. | a tract of land set aside for the protection and conservation of wild animals, flowers, etc: a nature reserve |
| 8. | (Canadian) Also called: reservation an area of land set aside, esp (in the US and Canada) for American or Canadian Indian peoples |
| 9. | (Austral), (NZ) an area of publicly owned land set aside for sport, recreation, etc |
| 10. | the act of reserving; reservation |
| 11. | a member of a team who only plays if a playing member drops out; a substitute |
| 12. | (often plural) |
| | a. a part of an army or formation not committed to immediate action in a military engagement |
| | b. that part of a nation's armed services not in active service |
| 13. | coolness or formality of manner; restraint, silence, or reticence |
| 14. | finance |
| | a. a portion of capital not invested (a capital reserve) or a portion of profits not distributed (a revenue or general reserve) by a bank or business enterprise and held to meet legal requirements, future liabilities, or contingencies |
| | b. (often plural) liquid assets held by an organization, government, etc, to meet expenses and liabilities |
| 15. | without reserve without reservations; fully; wholeheartedly |
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| [C14: from Old French reserver, from Latin reservāre to save up, from re- + servāre to keep] |
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| re'servable |
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| —adj |
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| re'server |
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| —n |