ˈkän(t)sə(r)ˌvād.ə(r), -vātə-; esp in senses 2 and 3 kənˈsərvəd.ər, -sə̄vəd.ə, -səivəd.ə, -vətə- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English conservatour, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French conservateur, from Latin conservator, from conservatus (past participle of conservare to keep, protect) + -or — more at conserve
1. : one that preserves from injury or violation : protector , preserver
a fine art conservator
2. : a person, official, or institution designated (as by a court) to take over and protect the interests of an incompetent (as a minor child, an insane person, a convict)
3. : an official charged with the protection of any of various things concerned with public welfare and interests
conservator of a river
conservator of fisheries
also : a person placed by the secretary of the treasury in charge of a national bank whose affairs are not in a satisfactory condition
4. : an overflow reservoir to permit expansion of a liquid (as oil in a transformer or water in a heating system)