v. & n.
v.tr. 1 store up; keep from harm or damage, esp. for later use. 2 Physics maintain a quantity of (heat etc.). 3 preserve (food, esp. fruit), usu. with sugar.
n. also 1 fruit etc. preserved in sugar. 2 fresh fruit jam.
[ ME f. OF conserver f. L conservare (as com-, servare keep) ]