reserve

noun

1. 1

   A restriction. The act of reserving or keeping back; reservation; exception.

   The book is on reserve.

   I accept your view with one reserve.

2. 2

   A restriction. Restraint of freedom in words or actions; backwardness; caution in personal behavior.

3. 3

   That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use.

   The tone was set at Trump’s Inauguration. Tech moguls streamed into Washington; some sat behind the President during his Inaugural Address, a signal of the power they would wield. Over the next 11 months, they would use their enormous cash reserves, cultural power, and momentum to push their products into homes across the world.

4. 4

   That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use. A natural resource known to exist but not currently exploited.

   New oil reserves are continuously being discovered, but not as fast as the existing ones are running out.

   If Alberta’s reserves are a carbon bomb, this global expansion of tar sands and oil shale exploitation amounts to an escalating emissions arms race, the unlocking of a subterranean cache of weapons of mass ecological destruction.

5. 5

   That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use. A tract of land reserved, or set apart, for a particular purpose

   the Connecticut Reserve in Ohio was originally set apart for the school fund of Connecticut.

   the Clergy Reserves in Canada are for the support of the clergy.

6. 6

   That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use. A tract of land set apart for the use of an Aboriginal group: Indian reserve.

7. 7

   That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use. A body of troops kept in the rear of an army drawn up for battle, reserved to support the other lines as occasion may require; a force or body of troops kept for an exigency.

   no reserves [the military force is throwing everything it has at the front]

8. 8

   That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use. Funds kept on hand to meet planned or unplanned financial requirements.

9. 9

   That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use. A reserve price in an auction.

   no reserve [the lot(s) will be sold no matter how low the bids are]

   reserve not met [the lot(s) will not be sold because the highest bid was too low to be acceptable]

10. 10

    That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use. Wine held back and aged before being sold.

11. 11

    That which is reserved or kept back, as for future use. Absence of color or decoration; the state of being left plain.

    Each is decorated with a simple disk in reserve and a band in reserve adorned with white dots.

12. 12

    Something initially kept back for later use in recreation. A member of a team who does not participate from the start of the game, but can be used to replace tired or injured team-mates.

13. 13

    Something initially kept back for later use in recreation. A group or pile of cards dealt out at the beginning of a patience or solitaire game to be used during play.

14. 14

    In exhibitions, a distinction indicating that the recipient will get a prize in the event of another person being disqualified.

15. 15

    A resist.

16. 16

    A preparation used on an object being electroplated to fix the limits of the deposit.

verb

1. 1

   To keep back; to retain.

   We reserve the right to make modifications.

   I will reserve judgment until I have actually read his book.

   I reserve the right to change my mind.

2. 2

   To keep in store for future or special use.

   This cake is reserved for the guests!

   Please reserve me a parking space if you can.

   c. 1703-1720, Jonathan Swift, A Letter to a Very Young Lady on Her Marriage Conceal your esteem and love in your own breast, and reserve your kind looks and language for private hours.

3. 3

   To book in advance; to make a reservation for.

   I reserved a table for us at the best restaurant in town.

   Thanks for reserving us a room!

4. 4

   obsoleteTo make an exception of; to except.

Forms

plural

reserves

past tense

reserved

past participle

reserved

present participle

reserving

third person singular

reserves