/ prɪˈzɜːvətɪv; NAmE -ˈzɜːrv-/ noun
[ C , U ] a substance used to prevent food or wood from decaying :
The juice contains no artificial preservatives.
(a) wood preservative
► pre·ser·va·tive adjective [ only before noun ]
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via Old French from medieval Latin praeservativus , from late Latin praeservat- kept, from the verb praeservare , from prae- before, in advance + servare to keep.