conserve
kun-SURV
kənˈsɜːrv
To protect something from harm, loss, or destruction; to use something sparingly to avoid waste.
Conserve often implies active management and wise use, especially regarding natural resources or art.
The story behind the word. From 'con-' (together) and 'servare' (to keep). It means to keep something together in a safe state.
Word relationships
- save: Save is more general; conserve implies a deliberate strategy of protection or efficiency.
- protect: Protect means to keep safe from an external threat; conserve means to manage carefully.
- waste: To use something carelessly or extravagantly.
- squander: To waste something in a reckless or foolish manner.
Commonly confused with
- preserve: Preserve is 'keep as is'; conserve is 'manage and protect from waste'.
Word family
- conservation (noun): The act of conserving something.
- conservationist (noun): A person who advocates for the protection of the environment.
Collocations
- conserve energy
- conserve resources
- conserve wildlife
Example sentences
- "We must conserve water during the summer months to avoid a shortage." Environmentalism
- "The museum hired an expert to conserve the crumbling fresco." Art history
Memory hook
'Con-serve' is to 'serve' the future by keeping things 'together' now. Protect and manage.
When not to use
Don't use 'conserve' when you mean to keep something exactly the same without any use (use 'preserve').
Fun facts
- In art, a 'conservator' does the physical work of repairing a painting, while a 'curator' manages the collection.
Related words
Explore more words
conservation, save, preserve, preservation, protect, stewardship
Also appears in
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