1. 保持，维持（原状）
    If you preserve a situation or condition, you make sure that it remains as it is, and does not change or end.

preserve

    e.g. We will do everything to preserve peace.
           我们会尽全力维持和平。
    e.g. ...an effort to fit in more students while preserving standards.
           在保持原有教学水平的同时招收更多学生的努力

2. 保护；保存；维护
    If you preserve something, you take action to save it or protect it from damage or decay.

    e.g. We need to preserve the forest...
           我们需要保护森林。
    e.g. Conservation is an issue which gets a lot of attention these days — whether it means preserving old buildings, or protecting the environment.
           资源保护是目前备受关注的问题——不管它指的是对古建筑的保护，还是对环境的保护。

3. 保存，腌制（食物）
    If you preserve food, you treat it in order to prevent it from decaying so that you can store it for a long time.

    e.g. I like to make puree, using only enough sugar to preserve the plums.
           我喜欢做果泥，只需要用一点糖把李子腌一下。
    e.g. ...preserved ginger in syrup.
           用糖浆腌制的姜

4. 蜜饯；果酱
    Preserves are foods such as jam that are made by cooking fruit with a large amount of sugar so that they can be stored for a long time.

preserve的近义词

5. 专属工作；独占的活动领域
    If you say that a job or activity is the preserve of a particular person or group of people, you mean that they are the only ones who take part in it.

    e.g. The conduct of foreign policy is largely the preserve of the president...
           外交政策事宜主要由总统专门负责。
    e.g. With the menfolk away at war, women got their first crack at the male preserves of employment and sport.
           由于男人们都去了战场，女人们第一次在男性专属的职业和运动中一展身手。

6. 保护区
    A nature preserve is an area of land or water where animals are protected from hunters.

    e.g. ...Pantanal, one of the world's great wildlife preserves.
           潘塔纳尔，世界上最大的野生动物保护区之一