preserves

Everyday

1. (noun) Jam, jelly or fruit cooked with sugar and kept in jars. tree →
2. (verb, he/she preserves) Keeps something safe, unharmed or from going bad. tree →
3. (noun) An area kept for one group or use: a nature preserve; «Football was the boys' preserve.» tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, Grandma makes preserves from berries; salt, sugar, freezing and drying preserve food. In science and history, ice preserves mammoths and amber preserves insects. Phrases: preserves food, preserves wildlife.

Examples

• Grandma's strawberry preserves are the best. tree →
• Salt preserves fish so it doesn't rot. tree →
• The freezer preserves food for months. tree →
• Amber preserves tiny insects for millions of years. tree →
• The park preserves rare birds. tree →
• We bought apricot preserves at the market. tree →
• The old man now went into the other room to fetch preserves, apples, and nuts--yes, it was delightful over there in the old house. tree →

Note

As a noun it is usually plural. As a verb it is the he/she/it form. Noun: preservation; preservative is a chemical that keeps food fresh.