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Entry 7 senses · 3 variants Webster, 1913

Preserve

/prəz-ẽrv'/ · Pre·serve · IPA /pɹəˈzɝv/
01 v. t. To keep or save from injury or destruction; to guard or defend from evil, harm, danger, etc.; to protect.
imp. & p. p. Preserved; p. pr. & vb. n. Preserving
  1. 1.
    To keep or save from injury or destruction; to guard or defend from evil, harm, danger, etc.; to protect.
    “O Lord, thou preserved man and beast.” — Ps. xxxvi. 6.
    “Now, good angels preserve the king.” — Shak.
  2. 2.
    To save from decay by the use of some preservative substance, as sugar, salt, etc.; to season and prepare for remaining in a good state, as fruits, meat, etc.; as, to preserve peaches or grapes.
    “You can not preserve it from tainting.” — Shak.
  3. 3.
    To maintain throughout; to keep intact; as, to preserve appearances; to preserve silence.
Phrases & compounds
To preserve game — to protect it from extermination.
Syn. To keep; save; secure; uphold; sustain; defend; spare; protect; guard; shield. See Keep.
02 v. i. To make preserves.
  1. 1.
    To make preserves.
  2. 2.
    To protect game for purposes of sport.
03 n. That which is preserved; fruit, etc., seasoned and kept by suitable preparation; esp., fruit cooked with sugar; -- commonly in the plural.
  1. 1.
    That which is preserved; fruit, etc., seasoned and kept by suitable preparation; esp., fruit cooked with sugar; -- commonly in the plural.
  2. 2.
    A place in which game, fish, etc., are preserved for purposes of sport, or for food.