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   preserve

   /prɪˈzəːv/

   verb

   • 1. maintain (something) in its original or existing state: "all records of the past were zealously preserved" Similar conserveprotectmaintaincare fortake care oflook aftersavesafeguardkeepOpposite damageneglect
   • ▪ retain (a condition or state of affairs): "a fight to preserve local democracy" Similar continueconservekeep upkeep alivekeep goingmaintaincontinue withupholdsustainprolongperpetuateOpposite discontinueabandon
   • ▪ maintain or keep alive (a memory or quality): "the film has preserved all the qualities of the novel"
   • ▪ keep safe from harm or injury: "a place for preserving endangered species" Similar guardprotectkeepdefendsafeguardsecuresheltershieldscreenwatch over
   • ▪ keep (game or an area where game is found) undisturbed to allow private hunting or shooting.
   • 2. treat (food) to prevent its decomposition: "freezing and canning can be reliable methods of preserving foods" Similar conservebottletincanpotchillfreezefreeze-dryquick-freezedrydesiccatedehydratecuresmokekippersaltpicklemarinatesousecornjellycandyembalmmummifyOpposite consumeuse
   • ▪ prepare (fruit) for long-term storage by boiling it with sugar: "she canned the vegetables and preserved the fruit from the garden"

   noun

   • 1. a sweet food made with fruit preserved in sugar, such as jam or marmalade: "a jar of cherry preserve" Similar jamjellymarmaladeconserveconfectiondulceconfiture
   • 2. a sphere of activity regarded as being reserved for a particular person or group: "the civil service became the preserve of the educated middle class" Similar domainareafieldsphereorbitarenarealmprovincespecialityspecialismterritorydepartmentinformal:thingturfbailiwick
   • 3. a place where game is protected and kept for private hunting or shooting. North American Similar sanctuaryreservereservationgame reserve

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘keep safe from harm’): from Old French preserver, from late Latin praeservare, from prae- ‘before, in advance’ + servare ‘to keep’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. preservable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • P

     3

   • R

     1

   • E

     1

   • S

     1

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

   • V

     4

   • E

     1

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