[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/preserve/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / preserve # preserve verb (preserve, preserves, preserved, preserving); noun (a preserve, preserves) «preserve» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. To keep something safe from harm, damage or change: preserve old buildings, preserve wildlife. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preserve/#m1) 2. To treat food so it lasts a long time, by drying, salting, freezing, pickling or making jam. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preserve/#m2) 3. (noun) Jam or fruit cooked with sugar to keep: strawberry preserves. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preserve/#m3) 4. (noun) An area kept for wild animals, or something that belongs to only one group: «a game preserve». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preserve/#m4) ### In the lessons In science lessons fossils are preserved in rock, ice or amber; salt and cold preserve food by stopping germs. In geography and everyday life we preserve forests, rivers and old buildings. In maths, some changes preserve a shape's size (a turn or slide), and «preserve the order» means keep it the same. Phrases: «preserve wildlife», «well preserved», «preserved in ice», «strawberry preserves». ### Examples - Salt helps preserve fish. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preserve/#x1) - The insect was preserved in amber for millions of years. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preserve/#x2) - We must preserve the rainforest for future people. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preserve/#x3) - Grandma makes plum preserves every autumn. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preserve/#x4) - The mammoth was preserved in the ice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preserve/#x5) - A turn preserves the size and shape of a triangle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preserve/#x6) - The old castle is well preserved. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preserve/#x7) - Freezing preserves food for months. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preserve/#x8) - I should have liked to preserve a specimen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preserve/#x9) ### Note Regular verb: preserved. Noun: preservation; adjective: preservative (a chemical that stops food going bad). Similar: protect, keep, save, conserve. «Preserves» (jam) is often plural. ## In Jewish tradition God sends Joseph ahead to "preserve life," meaning to keep people alive. Lot's daughters speak of preserving their father's seed, meaning continuing his family. In the Psalms and Proverbs, mercy, truth and integrity "preserve" a person, and a person is told to preserve discretion, meaning to guard it. **Interpretation.** Joseph's words are read as showing God's plan behind the family's troubles, bringing about survival. The Psalms are read as asking God to keep the faithful safe through goodness and honesty. ### Examples - Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.' (Torah GEN.19.32, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/preserve/#x1) - And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send me before you to preserve life. (Torah GEN.45.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/preserve/#x2) - Let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.' (Torah GEN.19.34, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/preserve/#x3) - Appoint mercy and truth, that they may preserve him. (Writings PSA.61.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/preserve/#x4) - Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for Thee. (Writings PSA.25.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/preserve/#x5) - That thou mayest preserve discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. (Writings PRO.5.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/preserve/#x6) ### Note Regular verb: preserved. Noun: preservation; adjective: preservative (a chemical that stops food going bad). Similar: protect, keep, save, conserve. «Preserves» (jam) is often plural. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «preserve» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/preserve/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«preserve» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/preserve.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «preserve» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/preserve/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«preserve» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/preserve.html) on Mova free.