v. con·served, con·serv·ing, con·serves v.tr. 1. a. To protect from loss or harm; preserve: calls to conserve our national heritage in the face of bewildering change. b. To use carefully or sparingly, avoiding waste: kept the thermostat lower to conserve energy. 2. To keep (a quantity) constant through physical or chemical reactions or evolutionary changes. 3. To preserve (fruits) with sugar. v.intr. To economize: tried to conserve on fuel during the long winter. n. (kŏnsûrv′) A jam made of fruits stewed in sugar. [Middle English conserven, from Old French conserver, from Latin cōnservāre : com-, intensive pref.; see COM- + servāre, to preserve; see ser-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] con·serva·ble adj. con·server n. |
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