v. & n.
v. 1 tr. (often foll. by from) rescue, preserve, protect, or deliver from danger, harm, discredit, etc. (saved my life; saved me from drowning). 2 tr. (often foll. by up) keep for future use; reserve; refrain from spending (saved up $150 for a new bike; likes to save plastic bags). 3 tr. (often refl.) a relieve (another person or oneself) from spending (money, time, trouble, etc.); prevent exposure to (annoyance etc.) (saved myself $50; a word processor saves time). b obviate the need or likelihood of (soaking saves scrubbing). 4 tr. preserve from damnation; convert (saved her soul). 5 tr. & refl. husband or preserve (one's strength, health, etc.) (saving himself for the last lap; save your energy). 6 intr. (often foll. by up) save money for future use. 7 tr. a avoid losing (a game, match, etc.). b prevent an opponent from scoring (a goal etc.). c stop (a ball etc.) from entering the goal.
n. 1 Football etc. the act of preventing an opponent's scoring etc. 2 Bridge a sacrifice-bid to prevent unnecessary losses. save-all 1 a device to prevent waste. 2 hist. a pan with a spike for burning up candle-ends. save appearances present a prosperous, respectable, etc. appearance. save-as-you-earn Brit. a method of saving by regular deduction from earnings at source. save one's breath not waste time speaking to no effect. save a person's face see FACE. save the situation (or day) find or provide a solution to difficulty or disaster. save one's skin (or neck or bacon) avoid loss, injury, or death; escape from danger. save the tide get in or out (of port etc.) while it lasts. save the trouble avoid useless or pointless effort. savable adj. (also saveable).
[ ME f. AF sa(u)ver, OF salver, sauver f. LL salvare f. L salvus SAFE ]