Definition of PRESERVE

preserve

Plural: preserves

Noun

  • a domain that seems to be specially reserved for someone
    • "medicine is no longer a male preserve"
  • a reservation where animals are protected
  • fruit preserved by cooking with sugar
  • A sweet spread made of any of a variety of fruits.
  • A reservation, a nature preserve.
  • An activity with restricted access.

Verb

Verb Forms: preserved, preserving, preserves

  • To keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, or loss.
  • keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last
    • "preserve the peace in the family"
  • keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction
    • "We preserve these archeological findings"
  • to keep up and reserve for personal or special use
  • prevent (food) from rotting
    • "preserved meats"
  • maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
  • keep undisturbed for personal or private use for hunting, shooting, or fishing
    • "preserve the forest and the lakes"
  • To protect; to keep from harm or injury.
  • 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 maintain throughout; to keep intact.

Examples

  • Every people has the right to preserve its identity and culture.
  • He hoped to preserve his winning streak in Words With Friends by playing strategically.
  • to preserve appearances; to preserve silence
  • to preserve peaches or grapes

Origin / 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”).

Synonyms

bear on, carry on, conserve, conserves, continue, keep, keep up, maintain, preserves, save, uphold, jam, jelly, marmalade

Antonyms

discontinue

Scrabble Score: 13

preserve: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
preserve: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
preserve: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 15

preserve: valid Words With Friends Word