preserve
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to keep something safe from being damaged or destroyed.
v.to maintain something in its original or existing state; to protect from harm or decay.
Simple“The committee is working hard to preserve the town's historic buildings.”
In context“The foundation's primary mission is to preserve the fragile ecosystem of the wetlands against the encroaching threat of industrial development.”
UsageOften used with a direct object representing a physical site or an abstract concept like peace or tradition.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to treat food so that it stays fresh for a long time.
v.to treat food with a preservative, such as salt, sugar, or vinegar, to prevent decomposition.
Simple“In the past, people used salt to preserve meat for the winter.”
In context“Artisanal producers often preserve seasonal fruits using traditional methods that avoid artificial chemicals and excessive processing.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a food made of fruit and sugar, similar to jam.
n.a food preparation consisting of fruit preserved with sugar; often used in the plural form.
Simple“She bought a jar of strawberry preserves at the local market.”
In context“The breakfast buffet featured a variety of homemade preserves, ranging from classic apricot to more exotic ginger and pear combinations.”
UsageCommonly used in the plural 'preserves' in American English when referring to the food product.
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.an area of land where animals and plants are protected.
n.a geographic area reserved and managed for the protection of wildlife or natural features.
Simple“The hiking trail goes right through the middle of the bird preserve.”
In context“The coastal preserve serves as a vital nesting ground for several endangered species of sea turtles.”
UsageIn British English, 'reserve' is more common for this meaning.
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.an activity or job that only a specific group of people can do.
n.a sphere of activity or interest regarded as being reserved for a particular person or group.
Simple“In the past, higher education was often the preserve of the wealthy.”
In context“For decades, the upper echelons of the legal profession remained the exclusive preserve of a small, socially connected elite.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is often used with 'exclusive' to highlight social or professional barriers.
Usage preserve the scholarly · preserved in ancient · preserved inside
“They were later preserved at the Natural History Museum, Kishiwada City.”
“It won't keep on coming back." The Pensychnant reserve is supported by volunteers who help preserve and run the centre, including Gwyndaf Pritchard, from Dwygyfylchi.”
From Middle English preserven, from Old French preserver, from Medieval Latin prēservāre (“keep, preserve”), from Late Latin praeservāre (“guard beforehand”), from prae (“before”, adverb) + servāre (“maintain, keep”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.