The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Preserve \Pre*serve"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preserved; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Preserving.] [F. pr['e]server, from L. prae before +
   servare to save, preserve; cf. L. praeservare to observe
   beforehand. See Serve.]
   1. To keep or save from injury or destruction; to guard or
      defend from evil, harm, danger, etc.; to protect.
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            O Lord, thou preserved man and beast. --Ps. xxxvi.
                                                  6.
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            Now, good angels preserve the king.   --Shak.
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   2. To save from decay by the use of some preservative
      substance, as sugar, salt, etc.; to season and prepare for
      remaining in a good state, as fruits, meat, etc.; as, to
      preserve peaches or grapes.
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            You can not preserve it from tainting. --Shak.
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   3. To maintain throughout; to keep intact; as, to preserve
      appearances; to preserve silence.
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   To preserve game, to protect it from extermination.
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   Syn: To keep; save; secure; uphold; sustain; defend; spare;
        protect; guard; shield. See Keep.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Preserve \Pre*serve"\, v. i.
   1. To make preserves. --Shak.
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   2. To protect game for purposes of sport.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Preserve \Pre*serve"\, n.
   1. That which is preserved; fruit, etc., seasoned and kept by
      suitable preparation; esp., fruit cooked with sugar; --
      commonly in the plural.
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   2. A place in which game, fish, etc., are preserved for
      purposes of sport, or for food.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

preserve
    n 1: a domain that seems to be specially reserved for someone;
         "medicine is no longer a male preserve"
    2: a reservation where animals are protected
    3: fruit preserved by cooking with sugar [syn: conserve,
       preserve, conserves, preserves]
    v 1: keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or
         last; "preserve the peace in the family"; "continue the
         family tradition"; "Carry on the old traditions" [syn:
         continue, uphold, carry on, bear on, preserve]
         [ant: cease, discontinue, give up, lay off, quit,
         stop]
    2: keep in safety and protect from harm, decay, loss, or
       destruction; "We preserve these archeological findings"; "The
       old lady could not keep up the building"; "children must be
       taught to conserve our national heritage"; "The museum
       curator conserved the ancient manuscripts" [syn: conserve,
       preserve, maintain, keep up]
    3: to keep up and reserve for personal or special use; "She
       saved the old family photographs in a drawer" [syn: save,
       preserve]
    4: prevent (food) from rotting; "preserved meats"; "keep
       potatoes fresh" [syn: preserve, keep]
    5: maintain in safety from injury, harm, or danger; "May God
       keep you" [syn: keep, preserve]
    6: keep undisturbed for personal or private use for hunting,
       shooting, or fishing; "preserve the forest and the lakes"