reserve

re|serve1 [ rı`zɜrv ] noun **

▸ 1 supply of something

▸ 2 player not chosen

▸ 3 soldiers not fighting

▸ 4 shy behavior

▸ 5 area for animals

▸ 6 reserve price

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count usually plural a supply of something that a country or an organization can use when they need to:

Germany's coal reserves were concentrated in a few large fields.

The company has steadily drained its cash reserves.

the national bank's foreign exchange reserves

a ) a supply of something that someone has and can use when they need to:

We all have discovered reserves of strength that we don't realize we have.

2. ) count a player who has not been chosen to play in a particular game but who is available to play if needed:

a reserve forward

a ) the reserves plural a team consisting of players who have not been chosen to play for the main team

3. ) count a soldier or a group of soldiers who are not fighting but who are available to fight

4. ) uncount the attitude or behavior of someone who tends not to talk about or show their feelings

a ) a feeling of doubt about whether something is good or right:

There was a certain reserve in Josie's eyes, but in the end she agreed.

without reserve: They have accepted the report's recommendations without reserve.

5. ) count BRITISH an area of land where wild animals or plants are officially protected. American reservation

6. ) count a RESERVE PRICE

in reserve

available to be used:

hold/keep something in reserve: Keep some money in reserve to cover unexpected costs.

reserve

re|serve 2 [ rı`zɜrv ] verb **

1. ) intransitive or transitive to make an arrangement so that something such as a room in a hotel or a seat in a theater is kept for you to use later:

Saturdays are busy, so it's a good idea to reserve a table in advance.

2. ) transitive to keep something so that you can use it when you need to:

Strain the fruit, reserving the juice.

3. ) transitive to keep something for a particular person, purpose, or situation:

reserve something for someone/something: This section of the parking lot is reserved for visitors.

She reserves that dazzling smile for the cameras.

4. ) transitive not to make a decision or judgment until you have more information:

I'll reserve my judgment until I've looked at the details of the proposal.

reserve the right to do something FORMAL

to keep the right to do something if you later think it is necessary:

We reserve the right to alter this timetable.