I. kənˈsərv, -sə̄v, -səiv; in sense 2 also ˈkänˌs- transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English conserven, from Middle French conserver, from Latin conservare, from com- + servare to keep, guard, protect, preserve, observe; akin to Old English searu weapons, armor, skill, Old Norse sörvi pearl necklace, sörvar armed men, Gothic sarwa weapons, armor, Greek horminos salvia, Avestan haraiti, haurvaiti he guards
1. : to keep in a safe or sound state (as by deliberate, planned, or intelligent care) : preserve from change or destruction : save
conserve national forests
conserve moral standards
2. : to preserve (as fruits) with sugar : make a conserve of
• con·serv·er noun
II. ˈkänˌsərv, -sə̄v, -səiv; Brit usually kənˈs- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from conserven, v.
1. archaic : a conserving agent : preservative
his passion for Eustacia had been a sort of conserve of his whole life — Thomas Hardy
2.
a. : sweetmeat ; especially : a candied fruit : confection
b. : preserve 2b ; specifically : one prepared from a mixture of fruits (as rhubarb, raisins, and oranges) sometimes with the addition of nuts
3. : an obsolete medicinal preparation made by mixing undried vegetable drugs with sufficient powdered sugar to form a soft mass — see confection I 1b
III. transitive verb
: to maintain (a quantity) constant during a process of chemical, physical, or evolutionary change
conserve angular momentum
a DNA sequence that has been conserved