Main Entry:

¹pre·serve

Pronunciation:

\pri-ˈzərv\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

pre·served; pre·serv·ing

Etymology:

Middle English, from Medieval Latin praeservare, from Late Latin, to observe beforehand, from Latin prae- + servare to keep, guard, observe — more at conserve

Date:

14th century

transitive verb1: to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction : protect2 a: to keep alive, intact, or free from decay b: maintain3 a: to keep or save from decomposition b: to can, pickle, or similarly prepare for future use4: to keep up and reserve for personal or special useintransitive verb1: to make preserves2: to raise and protect game for purposes of sport3: to be able to be preserved (as by canning)

— pre·serv·abil·i·ty \-ˌzər-və-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— pre·serv·able \-ˈzər-və-bəl\ adjective

— pres·er·va·tion \ˌpre-zər-ˈvā-shən\ noun

— pre·serv·er \pri-ˈzər-vər\ noun