reserve Definition

reserve
verb reserved, reserving

1. To keep something back or set it aside for future use, for the use of a particular person, or for some particular purpose.

Thesaurus: retain, hold, book, save, engage, withhold, secure, keep, hoard, conserve, bespeak, prearrange, set apart; Antonym: use up.
2. To keep or retain something for oneself.
3. To book or order (eg a hotel room, a table in a restaurant, etc) in advance.
4. To delay or postpone (a legal judgement, taking a decision, etc).

Form: reserve judgement (especially)

noun

1. Something kept back or set aside, epecially for future use or possible need.

Thesaurus: store, provisions, supply, stockpile, cache, fund, hoard, nest egg.
2. The state or condition of being reserved or an act of reserving.
3a. An area of land set aside for a particular purpose, especially for the protection of wildlife;

Example: a nature reserve
3b. An area of land set aside for occupation by a particular people; a reservation.
(Austral, NZ)
4. A public park.
5. Coolness, distance or restraint of manner; diffidence or reticence.

Thesaurus: calmness, restraint, reticence, formality, coolness, secretiveness, modesty, unresponsiveness, caution, taciturnity, inhibition, coyness, demureness, aloofness; Antonym: friendliness.
6a. sport.
An extra player or participant who can take another's place if needed; a substitute;
6b. sport.
The second or reserve team.
Example: playing for the reserves
Form: the reserves (usually)
7a. military.
Part of an army or force kept out of immediate action to provide reinforcements when needed;
Form: reserves (also)
7b. military.
Forces in addition to a nation's regular armed services, not usually in service but that may be called upon if necessary;
Thesaurus: reinforcements, volunteers.
Form: reserves (also)
7c. military.
A member of such a force; a reservist.
Form: reserves (also)
8. finance.
A company's money or assets, or a country's gold and foreign currency, held at a bank to meet future liabilities.
Form: reserves (often)
9. A supply of eg oil, gas, coal, etc, known to be present in a particular region and as yet unexploited.

Form: reserves (usually)
10. Extra physical or mental power, energies, stamina, etc that can be drawn upon in a difficult or extreme situation.

Example: reserves of strength
Form: reserves (usually)
11. A reserve price.
12a. In a competition, show, etc: a distinction awarded to an exhibit, etc, which shows that it will be given a prize if another is disqualified;
12b. In a competition, show, etc: the exhibit, etc that receives this distinction. Also as adj.

Example: a reserve supply

Idiom: without reserve

Fully, or without reservations or restrictions; frankly.

Etymology: 14c: from French réserver, from Latin reservare to keep something back.