From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishreservere‧serve1 /rɪˈzɜːv $ -ɜːrv/ ●●● W3 verb [transitive] 1 DBUYto arrange for a place in a hotel, restaurant, plane etc to be kept for you to use at a particular time in the future → bookreserve something for somebody/something I’d like to reserve a table for two. Do you have to reserve tickets in advance?2 KEEP/STOREto keep something so that it can be used by a particular person or for a particular purpose SYN set asidereserve something for somebody/something A separate room is reserved for smokers. reserved parking spaces3 especially written to keep part of something for use at a later time during a process – used especially when describing how to cook something SYN keep, save Reserve a little of the mixture to sprinkle over the top of the pie.4 USE somethingto use or show something only in one particular situationreserve something for somebody/something She spoke in a tone of voice she usually reserved for dealing with officials.5 → reserve the right to do something6 → reserve (your) judgment (on something)→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
reserve• To reserve a table for £5 call.• Dougal noticed that her cup was cracked; the best cup was reserved for visitors.• Return reserved onions and eggplant to pan along with all remaining ingredients.• I save my clients when I can, but I reserve the right of selective salvation.• She performed her duties faithfully, reserving to herself the most menial tasks.reserve something for somebody/something• She spoke in a tone of voice she usually reserved for dealing with officials.• A separate, smaller room is reserved for smokers.• Reserve half of the chicken stock for the sauce.reservereserve2 ●●○ noun 1 supply [countable usually plural]AMOUNT a supply of something kept to be used if it is needed $10 million in cash reserves oil reservesreserve of Somehow Debbie maintained an inner reserve of strength.2 → in reserve3 personal quality [uncountable]SHOW A FEELING OR ATTITUDE a quality in someone’s character that makes them not like expressing their emotions or talking about their problems → shyness She overcame her own natural reserve.4 player [countable]DS an extra player who plays in a team if one of the other players is injured or ill → substitute5 → the reserves6 → the reserve7 for animals/plants [countable] British English an area of land where wild animals and plants are protected SYN reservation, preserve American English a wildlife reserve → nature reserve8 for native americans [countable] a reservation9 price [countable] (also reserve price)BBT a price below which something will not be sold, especially in an auctionExamples from the Corpus
reserve• The Victorian era comes down to us today mired in images of distance and reserve.• Remove with slotted spoon and reserve in a small bowl.• Basic banks are obliged to maintain certain reserves, which consist of cash in hand and deposits at the National Bank.• The country has foreign currency reserves of $83 billion.• We had to rely on our emergency reserve of food while we were snowed in.• Later, Darcy drops his reserve and confesses that he loves her.• They decided to launch an as-sault after the bombardment, with my platoon in reserve.• They sold half the wood and kept the rest in reserve for winter.• I wanted to reach into my inner reserve and call up the power to heal.• In March 1971 central banks agreed to freeze the deposit of reserves on the Euromarkets.• These are both very liquid and interest-earning assets and thus provide a valuable second line of reserves.• As well as its own peat-cutting operations, the company is also encouraging local farmers to use mechanical excavators to exploit their own reserves.reserve of• reserves of food• Somehow Debbie maintained an inner reserve of strength.natural reserve• He had an innocent manner about him too, and he had made her feel at ease despite her natural reserve.• His uncertainty with strangers is nothing like Juanita's, more the island child's natural reserve.wildlife reserve• The impressive wildlife reserve of the Algonquin Provincial Park is a stunning array of native animals in the wild.• Many wildlife reserves and parks are too dangerous for park rangers, let alone tourists.From Longman Business Dictionaryreservere‧serve1 /rɪˈzɜːv-ɜːrv/ verb [transitive]1TRAVELto arrange for a place on a plane, in a hotel, in a restaurant etc to be kept for a customer who will arrive laterSYNbook BrEHe reserved two rooms at the hotel.2to keep or restrict something so that it can be used only by a particular person or for a particular purposereserve something for somebody/somethingOf the total capital, 19% is expected to be reserved for strategic investors.The local road was to be reserved for traffic which had business in the locality.3reserve the right to do somethingCOMMERCE to state in an agreement, contract etc that you want the opportunity to do something or change somethingThe company reserved the right to invest directly in some of the movies.4all rights reservedLAW a statement put onto printed, recorded, or electronic material to show it is illegal to copy it without special permission5reserve judgement to delay a decision or opinion about something until a later dateThe five-judge panel will reserve judgement until they see further evidence.→ See Verb tablereservereserve2 noun [countable] a minimum price that a seller will accept, usually in an auctionSYNreserve priceThe painting failed to reach its reserve (=was not sold because the minimum price was not offered). → see also reservesOrigin reserve1 (1300-1400) Old French reserver, from Latin reservare “to keep back”, from servare “to keep” 