[ kən'sə:v ]
■ verb
1》 protect from harm or destruction.
↘prevent the wasteful overuse of.
2》 Physics maintain (a quantity) at a constant overall total.
↘ Biochemistry retain (a particular amino acid, nucleotide, or sequence) unchanged in different protein or DNA molecules.
■ noun also 'kɒnsə:v jam or marmalade.
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~r (v.), ~ (n.), from L. conservare 'to preserve', from con- 'together' + servare 'to keep'.