preserve

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a domain that seems to be specially reserved for someone

   medicine is no longer a male preserve

2. 2
   verb

   prevent (food) from rotting

   preserved meats

3. 3
   verb

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

   We preserve these archeological findings

4. 4
   verb

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

   preserve the forest and the lakes

5. 5
   noun

   A reservation, a nature preserve.

   Suppose Shakespeare had been knocked on the head some dark night in Sir Thomas Lucy's preserves, the world would have wagged on better or worse, the pitcher gone to the well, the scythe to the corn, and the student to his book; and no one been any the wiser of the loss.

6. 6
   noun

   An exclusive area of activity.

   Kids regard their tree houses as their own preserve.

7. 7
   verb

   To protect; to keep from harm or injury.

   Let's pray that we'd be preserved from danger.

8. 8
   verb

   To save from decay by the use of some preservative substance, such as sugar or salt; to season and prepare (fruits, meat, etc.) for storage.

   to preserve peaches or grapes

Etymology

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”).