preserve

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To keep something safe and protect it from harm, loss, or damage.

   We must preserve these ancient buildings for future generations.

2. 2
   verb

   To treat food so that it does not go bad.

   You can preserve peaches by storing them in sugar syrup.

3. 3
   noun

   An area of land set aside to protect wildlife or nature.

   The lions live freely inside the wildlife preserve.

4. 4
   noun

   An activity or area treated as belonging to one person or group.

   Medicine is no longer a male preserve.

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”).

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