I. re ‧ serve 1 W3 /rɪˈzɜːv $ -ɜːrv/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: reserver , from Latin reservare 'to keep back' , from servare 'to keep' ]
1 . to arrange for a place in a hotel, restaurant, plane etc to be kept for you to use at a particular time in the future ⇨ book
reserve something for somebody/something
I’d like to reserve a table for two.
Do you have to reserve tickets in advance?
2 . to keep something so that it can be used by a particular person or for a particular purpose SYN set aside
reserve something for somebody/something
A separate room is reserved for smokers.
reserved parking spaces
3 . especially written to keep part of something for use at a later time during a process – used especially when describing how to cook something SYN keep , save :
Reserve a little of the mixture to sprinkle over the top of the pie.
4 . to use or show something only in one particular situation
reserve something for somebody/something
She spoke in a tone of voice she usually reserved for dealing with officials.
5 . reserve the right to do something formal if you reserve the right to do something, you will do it if you think it is necessary – used especially in notices or official documents:
The management reserves the right to refuse admission.
6 . reserve (your) judgment (on something) spoken to not give your opinion about something until a later time when you have more information
II. reserve 2 S3 BrE AmE noun
1 . SUPPLY [countable usually plural] a supply of something kept to be used if it is needed:
$10 million in cash reserves
oil reserves
reserve of
Somehow Debbie maintained an inner reserve of strength.
2 . in reserve ready to be used if needed:
We always keep some money in reserve, just in case.
3 . PERSONAL QUALITY [uncountable] a quality in someone’s character that makes them not like expressing their emotions or talking about their problems ⇨ shyness :
She overcame her own natural reserve.
4 . PLAYER [countable] an extra player who plays in a team if one of the other players is injured or ill ⇨ substitute
5 . TEAM the reserves British English a team that plays when the usual team cannot do so
6 . MILITARY the reserve ( also the reserves ) an extra military force that a country has in addition to its usual army, navy etc which can be used if needed ⇨ reservist
7 . FOR ANIMALS/PLANTS [countable] British English an area of land where wild animals and plants are protected SYN reservation , preserve American English :
a wildlife reserve
⇨ ↑ nature reserve
8 . FOR NATIVE AMERICANS [countable] a ↑ reservation
9 . PRICE [countable] ( also reserve price ) a price below which something will not be sold, especially in an ↑ auction