Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense conserves, present participle conserving, past tense, past participle conservedpronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (kənsɜːʳv). The noun is pronounced (kɒnsɜːʳv).
1. verb
If you conserve a supply of something, you use it carefully so that it lasts for a long time.
The republic's factories have closed for the weekend to conserve energy. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: save, husband, take care of, hoard More Synonyms of conserve
2. verb
To conserve something means to protect it from harm, loss, or change.
...a big increase in U.S. aid to help developing countries conserve their forests. [VERB noun]
...the Government-funded body responsible for conserving historic buildings. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: protect, keep, save, preserve More Synonyms of conserve
3. variable noun
Conserve is jam containing a large proportion of fruit, usually in whole pieces.
conserve in British English
verb (kənˈsɜːv)(transitive)
1.
to keep or protect from harm, decay, loss, etc
2.
to preserve (a foodstuff, esp fruit) with sugar
noun (ˈkɒnsɜːv, kənˈsɜːv)
3.
a preparation of fruit in sugar, similar to jam but usually containing whole pieces of fruit
Derived forms
conservable (conˈservable)
adjective
conserver (conˈserver)
noun
Word origin
(vb) C14: from Latin conservāre to keep safe, from servāre to save, protect; (n) C14: from Medieval Latin conserva, from Latin conservāre
conserve in American English
(kənˈsɜrv; for n., usually ˈkɑnˌsɜrv)
verb transitiveWord forms: conˈserved or conˈserving
1.
to keep from being damaged, lost, or wasted; save
2.
to make (fruit) into preserves
noun
3. [often pl.]
a kind of jam made of two or more fruits, often with nuts or raisins added
Derived forms
conservable (conˈservable)
adjective
conserver (conˈserver)
noun
Word origin
ME conserven < OFr conserver < L conservare, to keep, preserve < com-, with + servare: see observe
Examples of 'conserve' in a sentence
conserve
With a European game coming up we wanted to conserve energy.
The Sun (2017)
He was only napping, conserving his limited resources.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She needs to conserve her resources for the big performances.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This woman had been trying to conserve her limited supply.
Christianity Today (2000)
We list five leading websites for conserving your cash.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Ships will conserve fuel by cutting their speed.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The company temporarily suspended share buybacks to conserve cash.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
That is why he has cut the dividend to conserve cash.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Strict cost management has helped to conserve cash.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Some have already taken drastic measures to conserve their cash.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Capital controls would probably be introduced to conserve what little cash the banks still possess.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We vaulted for more than eight hours so you had to bide your time and conserve your energy.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The best way to make people conserve energy is to show they can make money out of doing so.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
One theory contends that it evolved as a way of conserving energy and resources during the long winter period.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
If we can save or conserve energy we can both make the energy source last longer and cut costs.
Chapman, C. & Horsley, M. & Small, E. Technology Basic Facts (1990)
We must abandon our wasteful ways and conserve resources for our own use in the future and for generations to come.
A Conceptual View of Human Resource Management: Strategic Objectives, Environments,Functions
The star admits resting most Sundays to conserve his energy.
The Sun (2012)
If we're going to do any good this week we have to conserve energy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's essential that the fuels we introduce are sustainable and we do all that we can to conserve resources.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In practical terms, the nation needs a wide range of resources for conserving and preserving collections of all kinds.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The row has left 12 countries without deliveries in freezing temperatures and meant hundreds of schools and factories have closed to conserve fuel.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In Germany there was a speed limit of 60mph to conserve fuel.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
conserve
British English: conserve VERB
If you conserve a supply of something, you use it carefully so that it lasts for a long time.
The factories have closed for the weekend to conserve energy.
American English: conserve
Brazilian Portuguese: poupar
Chinese: 节省
European Spanish: conservar
French: économiser
German: erhalten
Italian: conservare
Japanese: 節約して使う
Korean: 절약하다
European Portuguese: poupar
Latin American Spanish: conservar
Chinese translation of 'conserve'
conserve
(vbkənˈsəːv; nˈkɔnsəːv)
vt
[resources, supplies, energy]保存 (bǎocún)
[forest, building, species]保护(護) (bǎohù)
n(c/u)
(= jam) 果酱(醬) (guǒjiàng) (瓶, píng)
1 (verb)
Definition
to protect from harm, decay, or loss
The factory has closed over the weekend to conserve energy.
Synonyms
save
I thought we were saving money for a holiday.
husband
Husbanding precious resources was part of rural life.
take care of
hoard
store up
go easy on
use sparingly
Opposites
spend
,
blow (slang)
,
waste
, misuse,
squander
,
use up
,
dissipate
,
fritter away
,
misspend
,
be extravagant with
,
spend like water
2 (verb)
Definition
to protect from harm, decay, or loss
an increase in aid to help countries conserve their forests
Synonyms
protect
He vowed to protect them.
keep
We want to keep as many players as we can.
save
a final attempt to save 40,000 jobs
preserve
We need to preserve the rainforests.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of husband
Definition
to use (resources, finances, etc.) economically
Husbanding precious resources was part of rural life.