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Definition of reserve verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

reserve

verb
 
/rɪˈzɜːv/
 
/rɪˈzɜːrv/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they reserve
 
/rɪˈzɜːv/
 
/rɪˈzɜːrv/
he / she / it reserves
 
/rɪˈzɜːvz/
 
/rɪˈzɜːrvz/
past simple reserved
 
/rɪˈzɜːvd/
 
/rɪˈzɜːrvd/
past participle reserved
 
/rɪˈzɜːvd/
 
/rɪˈzɜːrvd/
-ing form reserving
 
/rɪˈzɜːvɪŋ/
 
/rɪˈzɜːrvɪŋ/
Idioms
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  1. to ask for a seat, table, room, etc. to be available for you or somebody else at a future time synonym book
    • reserve something for somebody/something I'd like to reserve a table for three for eight o'clock.
    • reserve something I've reserved a room in the name of Jones.
    compare bookTopics Cooking and eatingb2
  2. reserve something for somebody/something to keep something for somebody/something, so that it cannot be used by any other person or for any other reason
    • These seats are reserved for special guests.
    • The team captain reserved special praise for his players after the match.
    • She said this in the tone of voice she reserved for addressing small children.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • exclusively
    • only
    • specially
    preposition
    • for
    See full entry
  3. reserve something to have or keep a particular power
    • The management reserves the right to refuse admission.
    • (law) All rights reserved (= nobody else can publish or copy this).
  4. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French reserver, from Latin reservare ‘keep back’, from re- ‘back’ + servare ‘to keep’.
Idioms
reserve (your) decision/judgement
  1. to not decide or make a judgement about something until a later time
    • I'd prefer to reserve judgement until I know all the facts.
    • Three judges have decided to reserve their decision until a later date.
See reserve in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee reserve in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
trait
noun
 
 
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B2
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