preserve
Definitions
To keep something safe from harm, loss, or decay
保护；保存；维护
To treat food so it can be stored for a long time
腌制；保鲜（食物）
A jam or other food made by preserving fruit
果酱；蜜饯
An activity or area regarded as reserved for a particular group
（某群体的）专属领域；保护区
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedpre- ('beforehand') + serve (servāre 'keep safe') = keep safe in advance, before decay sets in. From protecting a building to bottling jam, it's always the same act: stop something from being lost or spoiled. The noun 'preserve' (jam) is the food you've kept; a 'preserve' (territory) is land kept for someone.
Root serv still carries 62 more wordsWhy It Means This
The jam meaning is the most literal survival of the root: preserving fruit is exactly 'keeping it safe from decay' by sealing it in sugar. The abstract senses (preserve peace, preserve a tradition) are the same act applied to things that can't be bottled.
Common Collocations
- 1.preserve peace维护和平
- 2.preserve order维持秩序
- 3.preserve a tradition保存传统
- 4.well preserved保存完好
Example Sentences
- 1.
Strict laws help preserve the country's ancient forests.
- 2.
Salt was once the main way to preserve meat.
- 3.
She spread homemade plum preserve on her toast.
Easily Confused
preserve vs conserve — both mean 'keep safe,' but preserve = keep unchanged / from decay (preserve a building, preserve food); conserve = use sparingly so it lasts (conserve energy, conserve water). Preserve protects from harm; conserve protects from waste.