transitive verb preserved -·served′, preserving -·serv′·ing

1. to keep from harm, damage, danger, evil, etc.; protect; save
2. to keep from spoiling or rotting
3. to prepare (food), as by canning, pickling, salting, etc., for future use
4. to keep up; carry on; maintain
5. to maintain and protect (game, fish, etc.) in an area, esp. for regulated hunting or fishing

Etymology: ME preserven < MFr preserver < ML praeservare, to preserve, protect < LL, to observe beforehand < L prae-, pre- + servare: see observe

intransitive verb

1. to preserve fruit, etc.
2. to maintain a game preserve

noun

1. fruit preserved whole or in large pieces by cooking with sugar
2. a place where game, fish, etc. are preserved
3. any place or activity treated as the special domain of some person or group
4. something that preserves or is preserved