I. rə̇ˈsərv, rēˈz-, -zə̄v, -zəiv verb
Etymology: Middle English reserven, from Middle French reserver, from Latin reservare to keep back, save up, from re- + servare to save, protect, keep — more at conserve
transitive verb
1.
a. : to keep in store for future or special use : hold or keep in reserve
b.
(1) : to retain power of absolution of to oneself — used of a religious superior (as the pope, a bishop)
(2) : to set apart (a case) for such action on the part of a superior
(3) : to retain or set aside (a portion of the consecrated elements) at the time of a celebration of the Eucharist for future use (as for communion of the sick)
c. : to keep back : retain or hold over to a future time or place : fail to deliver, make over, or disclose at once : defer the discussion or determination of
d. : to make legal reservation of : withhold from the operation of a grant, agreement, or release
2.
a. : to keep or leave safe, sound, or intact : spare , save
b. obsolete : to keep unaltered or free from decay
c. : to continue to have or show
d. : to retain particular areas (as in porcelain) in the same color as the original surface
3.
a. : to set aside or apart — usually used with for or to
reserved, and destined to eternal woe — John Milton
b. : to have set aside (as for one's use)
reserve seats at the opera
4. archaic : to make an exception of or in favor of : except
5. obsolete : to keep from being known to others
intransitive verb
obsolete : to continue to be (as in existence or a specified condition) : remain
Synonyms: see keep
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: French réserve, from Middle French, from reserver to reserve
1. : something that is reserved : something kept back or held available (as for future use) : store , stock
2. : something reserved or set aside for a particular purpose, use, or reason (as a tree in a part of a wood that is to be felled or a part of a lode): as
a.
(1) : a military force intended to be withheld temporarily from action for use by a commander when he desires to commit it to influence decisively the course of an engagement — usually used in plural; compare support
(2) : forces not in the field for any reason but available
(3) : the military forces of a country not part of the regular services or in the United States of the National Guard ; also : a member of these forces : reservist
b. : a tract (as of public land) set apart for a particular purpose : reservation
forest reserves
c. : a distinction in an exhibition that indicates that the recipient will get a prize if another should be disqualified
d. : an area left the natural color of the background or original surface color
3. : an act of reserving : exception , restriction , qualification — usually used with reference to adherence to a principle, belief, or standard
a mental reserve
4.
a. : self-restraint, closeness, or caution in one's words and bearing toward others : self-control in expression (as of one's thoughts, feelings, plans) : lack of effusiveness or sometimes of cordiality
b. : forbearance from making a full explanation, complete disclosure, or free expression of one's mind (as in casuistry or religious instruction) : intentional withholding or suppression of truth when it is regarded as inconvenient to disclose it (as from people who are regarded as unable to understand it or receive it with benefit)
5. archaic : a case of withholding information or knowledge ; also : a piece of information not fully disclosed : secret
6. : money or its equivalent kept in hand or set apart usually to meet a specified liability or anticipated liabilities: as
a.
(1) : uninvested cash kept on hand by a bank
(2) : such cash together with deposits in a central depository (as a Federal Reserve bank or the Bank of England) — see legal reserve
b.
(1) : the portion of an insurance company's assets set aside for some special purpose as evidenced by showing the reserve as a liability on the books
(2) : the amount of funds or assets calculated on net premiums to be necessary for a life insurance company to have at any given time to enable it with interest and premiums paid as they shall accrue to meet all claims on the insurance then in force as they would mature according to the particular mortality table accepted : the theoretical difference between the present value of the total insurance and the present value of the future premiums on the insurance constituting the amount for which another insurance company could afford to take over the insurance and often regarded as a reinsurance fund — called also reinsurance reserve ; see catastrophe reserve, initial reserve , insurance reserve , investment reserve , legal reserve , loss reserve , mean reserve , terminal reserve , unearned premium reserve
c. : reserve account
d.
(1) : the portion of the earnings of a corporation set aside for a specific purpose such as to meet future losses or contingent liabilities — compare surplus
(2) : a deduction from the book value of an asset to bring its valuation into line with current market conditions or possible future losses
a reserve against losses on bank loans
a reserve for depreciation of securities of an investment company
— called also valuation reserve
e. : the liquid resources (as gold and foreign exchanges) of a nation for meeting international payments
7.
a. : resist 2a
b. : the capacity of a solution to neutralize alkali or acid when its reaction is shifted from one hydrogen-ion concentration to another ; especially : the capacity of blood or bacteriological media to react with acid or alkali within predetermined and usually physiological limits of hydrogen-ion concentration — compare buffer 4a, buffer solution
c. : a preparation used on an object in electroplating to fix the limits of the deposit
8. : substitute
•
- in reserve
- without reserve
III. adjective
: constituting or having the form or function of a reserve
a reserve supply
reserve strength
IV. noun
1. : the lowest price that a seller agrees to accept for an item offered at auction
2. : a wine made from select grapes, bottled on the maker's estate, and aged differently from the maker's other wines of the same vintage