reserve
pronunciation
How to pronounce reserve in British English:
UK [rɪˈzɜːv]
How to pronounce reserve in American English:
US [rɪˈzɜːrv]
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- Noun:
- formality and propriety of manner
- something kept back or saved for future use or a special purpose
- an athlete who plays only when another member of the team drops out
- (medicine) potential capacity to respond in order to maintain vital functions
- a district that is reserved for particular purpose
- armed forces that are not on active duty but can be called in an emergency
- the trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary
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- Verb:
- hold back or set aside, especially for future use or contingency
- give or assign a share of money or time to a particular person or cause
- obtain or arrange (for oneself) in advance
- arrange for and reserve (something for someone else) in advance
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- Adjective:
- not engaged in military action
- kept in reserve especially for emergency use
Word Origin
- reserve (v.)
- mid-14c., from Old French reserver "set aside, withhold" (12c.) and directly from Latin reservare "keep back, save up; retain, preserve," from re- "back" (see re-) + servare "to keep, save, preserve, protect" (see observe). Meaning "to book" is from 1935. Related: Reserved; reserving.
- reserve (n.)
- "something stored up," 1610s, from reserve (v.) or from French réserve, a Middle French back-formation from reserver. Meaning "self-imposed restraint on freedom of words or actions; habit of keeping back the feelings" is from 1650s.
Example
- 1. It holds two-thirds of the world 's reserve assets .
- 2. Lower reserve requirements effectively free up more lending by banks .
- 3. Auction theory offers an argument that a secret reserve price is better .
- 4. This reserve was the world 's first starlight tourism destination .
- 5. The amount is the largest ever drawn from the reserve of surplus cash from the list .