"preserves" in the noun sense
1. preserve
a domain that seems to be specially reserved for someone
"medicine is no longer a male preserve"
2. preserve
a reservation where animals are protected
3. conserve, preserve, conserves, preserves
fruit preserved by cooking with sugar
"preserves" in the verb sense
1. continue, uphold, carry on, bear on, preserve
keep or maintain in unaltered condition cause to remain or last
"preserve the peace in the family"
"continue the family tradition"
"Carry on the old traditions"
2. conserve, preserve, maintain, keep up
keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or destruction
"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"
3. save, preserve
to keep up and reserve for personal or special use
"She saved the old family photographs in a drawer"
4. preserve, keep
prevent (food) from rotting
"preserved meats"
"keep potatoes fresh"
5. keep, preserve
maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger
"May God keep you"
6. preserve
keep undisturbed for personal or private use for hunting, shooting, or fishing
"preserve the forest and the lakes"
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
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