to keep back or save for future use, handling, etc.:He reserved his strength for the last half mile of the race.
to keep aside or save by an arrangement in advance:We reserved a room at the hotel.
to set apart for a particular use, purpose, service, etc.:reserved certain seats for the elderly.
to delay; postpone:He reserved judgment on the plan.
n.
Business[countable] cash, or other financial sources that can be easily changed into cash or held aside to meet unexpected demands.
something stored or saved for use or time of need; stock:[countable]a reserve of food.
an area of public land set apart for a special purpose:[countable]a forest reserve.
Militaryreserves, [plural] part of a military force held in readiness to assist the main force, or kept apart and not in active duty:joined the reserves.
[uncountable] caution or formality in one's words or actions.
adj.[before a noun]
kept in reserve:reserve supplies.
Idioms
Idiomsin reserve, put aside for a future need:money held in reserve.
to keep back or save for future use, disposal, treatment, etc.
to retain or secure by express stipulation.
to set apart for a particular use, purpose, service, etc.:ground reserved for gardening.
to keep for oneself.
to retain (the original color) of a surface, as on a painted ceramic piece.
Religionto save or set aside (a portion of the Eucharistic elements) to be administered, as to the sick, outside of the Mass or communion service.
n.
Business[Finance.]
Businesscash, or assets readily convertible into cash, held aside, as by a corporation, bank, state or national government, etc., to meet expected or unexpected demands.
uninvested cash held to comply with legal requirements.
something kept or stored for use or need; stock:a reserve of food.
a resource not normally called upon but available if needed.
a tract of public land set apart for a special purpose:a forest reserve.
an act of reserving; reservation, exception, or qualification:I will do what you ask, but with one reserve.
Military
a fraction of a military force held in readiness to sustain the attack or defense made by the rest of the force.
the part of a country's fighting force not in active service.
reserves, the enrolled but not regular components of the U.S. Army.
formality and self-restraint in manner and relationship; avoidance of familiarity or intimacy with others:to conduct oneself with reserve.
reticence or silence.
in reserve, put aside or withheld for a future need; reserved:money in reserve.
without reserve:
without restraint; frankly; freely.
(of articles at auction) without limitation as to the terms of sale, esp. with no stipulated minimum price.
adj.
kept in reserve; forming a reserve:a reserve fund; a reserve supply.
Animal Husbandryof or pertaining to the animal awarded second place in livestock shows:the reserve champion steer.
Latin reservāre to keep back, retain, equivalent. to re-re- + servāre to save
Middle French reserver
Middle English reserven (verb, verbal) 1325–75
re•serv′a•ble, adj. re•serve′less, adj.
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged husband, hold, store. See keep.
8.See corresponding entry in Unabridged supply.
14.See corresponding entry in Unabridged taciturnity, constraint, coldness.
1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged squander.
13, 14.See corresponding entry in Unabridged warmth.
to keep back or set aside, esp for future use or contingency; withhold
to keep for oneself; retain: I reserve the right to question these men later
to obtain or secure by advance arrangement: I have reserved two tickets for tonight's show
to delay delivery of (a judgment), esp in order to allow time for full consideration of the issues involved
something kept back or set aside, esp for future use or contingency
(as modifier): a reserve stock
the state or condition of being reserved: I have plenty in reserve
a tract of land set aside for the protection and conservation of wild animals, flowers, etc: a nature reserve
an area of land set aside, esp for indigenous peoples
an area of publicly owned land set aside for sport, recreation, etc
the act of reserving; reservation
a member of a team who only plays if a playing member drops out; a substitute
(often plural)a part of an army or formation not committed to immediate action in a military engagement
that part of a nation's armed services not in active service
coolness or formality of manner; restraint, silence, or reticence
a portion of capital not invested (a capital reserve) or a portion of profits not distributed (a revenue or general reserve) by a bank or business enterprise and held to meet legal requirements, future liabilities, or contingencies
(often plural)liquid assets held by an organization, government, etc, to meet expenses and liabilities
without reserve ⇒ without reservations; fully; wholeheartedly
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French reserver, from Latin reservāre to save up, from re- + servāre to keepreˈservablereˈserver