Pronunciation: pri- ' z ə rv
Function: verb
Inflected Form: 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 verb
1 : to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruction : PROTECT
2 a : to keep alive, intact, or free from decay b : MAINTAIN
3 a : to keep or save from decomposition b : to can, pickle, or similarly prepare for future use
4 : to keep up and reserve for personal or special use
intransitive verb
1 : to make preserves
2 : to raise and protect game for purposes of sport
3 : to be able to be preserved (as by canning)
– pre · serv · abil · i · ty \ - ˌ z ə r-v ə - ' bi-l ə -t ē \ noun
– pre · serv · able \ - ' z ə r-v ə -b ə l \ adjective
– pres · er · va · tion \ ˌ pre-z ə r- ' v ā -sh ə n \ noun
– pre · serv · er \ pri- ' z ə r-v ə r \ noun