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   Re·serve

   /rəˈzərv/

   

   verb

   • 1. refrain from using or disposing of (something); retain for future use: "roll out half the dough and reserve the other half" Similar put to one sideput asideset asidelay asidekeep backkeepsaveholdkeep in reservehold backretainconservepreserveput awaywithholdearmarkinformal:hang ontoOpposite use up
   • ▪ arrange for (a room, seat, ticket, etc.) to be kept for the use of a particular person and not given to anyone else: "a place was reserved for her in the front row" Similar bookmake a reservation fororderarrange in advancearrange forprearrange forsecurecharterhireinformal:bagdated:engagerare:bespeak
   • ▪ retain or hold (an entitlement to something), especially by formal or legal stipulation: "the editor reserves the right to edit letters" Similar retainkeepholdsecure
   • ▪ refrain from delivering (a judgment or decision) immediately or without due consideration or evidence: "I'll reserve my views on his ability until he's played again" Similar deferpostponeput offdelaywithholdtake something under advisement
   • ▪ use or engage in something only in or at (a particular circumstance or time): "Japanese food has been presented as expensive and reserved for special occasions"
   • ▪ (in church use) retain (a portion of the consecrated elements) after mass for communion of the sick or as a focus for devotion.

   noun

   • 1. a supply of a commodity not needed for immediate use but available if required: "Australia has major coal, gas, and uranium reserves" Similar stockstoresupplystockpilereservoirpoolfundbankaccumulationhoardcache
   • ▪ funds kept available by a bank, company, or government: "the foreign exchange reserves"
   • ▪ a part of a company's profits added to capital rather than paid as a dividend: "the bank built up a cash reserve of $2bn to meet any run on the bank once the loss was revealed"
   • 2. a force or body of troops kept back from action to reinforce or protect others, or additional to the regular forces and available in an emergency: "the men were stationed as a central reserve ready to be transported wherever necessary"
   • ▪ a member of the military reserve: "the army began calling up reserves for combat training" Similar backupreinforcementsextrasauxiliaries
   • 3. an extra player who is a possible substitute in a team: "he was reserve hooker for the World Cup team"
   • ▪ the second-string team: "playing in the first team has been a big step up after the reserves"
   • 4. a place set aside for special use.
   • ▪ a reservation for an indigenous people: "a reserve was allocated to the tribe on Bear Island"
   • ▪ a protected area for wildlife: "part of the marshes has been managed to create a splendid reserve full of birds" Similar national parkanimal sanctuarypreservereservationconservation areasafari parkconservation park
   • 5. a lack of warmth or openness in manner or expression: "she smiled and some of her natural reserve melted" Similar reticenceself-restraintrestraintself-containmentuncommunicativenessunwillingness to open upunapproachabilitydetachmentdistanceremotenesscoolnesslack of warmthaloofnessstand-offishnessconstraintformalityguardednessunresponsivenesssecretivenesstaciturnitysilenceshynessdiffidencetimidityself-effacementinhibitednessinhibitioncoldnessfrigidityfroideurOpposite friendlinessopennessapproachability
   • ▪ qualification or doubt attached to some statement or claim: "she trusted him without reserve" Similar reservationqualificationconditionlimitationprovisohesitationdoubtqualmscruple
   • 6. short for reserve price
   • 7. (in the decoration of ceramics or textiles) an area that still has the original color of the material or the color of the background.

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French reserver, from Latin reservare ‘keep back’, from re- ‘back’ + servare ‘to keep’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. reservable adjective
   • 2. reserver noun

   Scrabble Points: 10

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