Added 8 October 2026
preserve
/pɹəˈzɜːv/ noun
In Latin: vīvārium Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about preserve at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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A sweetened spreadable jam or jelly made of any of a variety of fruits, such as strawberry, peach, or apple.
I like blueberry preserves even better than grape jam on buttered toast.
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Land protected from development and set aside for a particular purpose; reservation, nature preserve.
wilderness preserve
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Any exclusive or protected domain or area of activity.
Kids regard their treehouses as their own preserve.
verb
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To protect; to keep from harm or injury.
Let's pray that we'd be preserved from danger.
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To save from decay by the use of some preservative substance, such as sugar or salt; to season and prepare (fruits, meat, etc.) for storage.
to preserve peaches or grapes
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To maintain throughout; to keep intact.
to preserve appearances; to preserve silence
Origin
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”). Displaced native Old English nerian.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)