preserve

Formspreserves, preserving, preserved

Pluralpreserves

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   To protect someone or something and keep it from harm or injury.

   The new law aims to preserve endangered species from extinction.

   Soldiers fought to preserve their homeland's independence.

   Similarprotect, safeguard, save, shield, defend

   Oppositedestroy, endanger

2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To maintain something in its original state throughout time and keep it intact.

   The treaty was designed to preserve the existing borders.

   Museums preserve the cultural traditions of past generations.

   Similarmaintain, conserve, keep, retain, sustain

   Oppositedestroy, alter

3. 3
   verbtransitive

   To save food from decay using a substance such as sugar or salt, and to season and prepare fruits or meat for storage.

   Early settlers would preserve meat by salting and smoking it.

   She preserves tomatoes from her garden in glass jars each fall.

   Similarcure, can

4. 4
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A sweet spread made from one or more kinds of fruit cooked with sugar.

   He topped his scone with a generous spoonful of apricot preserve.

   The market stall offered fig preserve made that very morning.

   Similarjam, jelly, marmalade, conserve

5. 5
   nouncountable

   A tract of land set aside to protect its wildlife and natural features.

   The new preserve protects thousands of acres of coastal wetland.

   Rangers patrol the preserve to prevent illegal hunting.

   Similarreserve, sanctuary, refuge

6. 6
   nounusually singular

   An area of activity or interest that is restricted to a particular person or group.

   Higher education was once the preserve of the privileged few.

   Writing code is no longer the preserve of large technology companies.

   Similardomain, province, territory

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