n.
Pronunciation: ˌ kän(t)-s ə r- ' v ā -sh ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin conservation-, conservatio, from conservare
Date: 14th century
1 : a careful preservation and protection of something especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect
2 : the preservation of a physical quantity during transformations or reactions
– con · ser · va · tion · al \ -shn ə l, -sh ə -n ə l \ adjective