verb (used with object), re·served, re·serv·ing.
- 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.
- to save or set aside (a portion of the Eucharistic elements) to be administered, as to the sick, outside of the Mass or communion service.
noun
- Finance.
- cash, 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.
adjective
- kept in reserve; forming a reserve: a reserve fund; a reserve supply.
- of or relating to the animal awarded second place in livestock shows: the reserve champion steer.
- 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, especially with no stipulated minimum price.
verb (tr)
- to keep back or set aside, esp for future use or contingency; withhold
- to keep for oneself; retainI reserve the right to question these men later
- to obtain or secure by advance arrangementI 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
noun
-
- something kept back or set aside, esp for future use or contingency
- (as modifier)a reserve stock
- the state or condition of being reservedI have plenty in reserve
- a tract of land set aside for the protection and conservation of wild animals, flowers, etca nature reserve
- Also called: reservation Canadian an area of land set aside, esp (in the US and Canada) for American or Canadian Indian peoples
- Australian and NZ 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
- finance
- 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
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.
“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.
v.
- To keep back, as for future use or for a special purpose.
- To set or cause to be set apart for a particular person or use.
n.
- Something kept back or saved for future use or a special purpose.
adj.
- Held back, set aside, or saved.
- Forming a reserve.
Kept back, set aside, or saved. For example, We have a fair amount of cash in reserve, or The coach decided to keep the best player in reserve until the last quarter. [Late 1600s]