conserve Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun fruit preserved by cooking with sugar
    preserve; preserves; conserves.
  2. verb keep constant through physical or chemical reactions or evolutionary change
    • Energy is conserved in this process
  3. verb keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction
    preserve; keep up; maintain.
    • We preserve these archeological findings
    • The old lady could not keep up the building
    • children must be taught to conserve our national heritage
    • The museum curator conserved the ancient manuscripts
  4. verb use cautiously and frugally
    economize; husband; economise.
    • I try to economize my spare time
    • conserve your energy for the ascent to the summit
  5. verb preserve with sugar
    • Mom always conserved the strawberries we grew in the backyard

WordNet

Con*serve" transitive verb
Etymology
F. conserver, L. conservare; con- + servare to keep, guard. See Serve.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Conserved ; present participle & verbal noun Conserving
Definitions
  1. To keep in a safe or sound state; to save; to preserve; to protect.
    The amity which . . . they meant to conserve and maintain with the emperor. Strype.
  2. To prepare with sugar, etc., for the purpose of preservation, as fruits, etc.; to make a conserve of.
Con"serve noun
Etymology
F. conserve, fr. conserver.
Definitions
  1. Anything which is conserved; especially, a sweetmeat prepared with sugar; a confection.
    I shall . . . study broths, plasters, and conserves, till from a fine lady I become a notable woman. Tatler.
  2. (Med.) A medicinal confection made of freshly gathered vegetable substances mixed with finely powdered refined sugar. See Confection.
  3. A conservatory. Obs. Evelyn.

Webster 1913