Main Entry: con·ser·va·tion

Pronunciation: \ˌkän(t)-sər-ˈvā-shən\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin conservation-, conservatio, from conservare

Date: 14th century

1 : a careful preservation and protection of something; especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect
2 : the preservation of a physical quantity during transformations or reactions

— con·ser·va·tion·al \-shnəl, -shə-n^əl\ adjective