Reserve

English Meaning

To keep back; to retain; not to deliver, make over, or disclose.

1. To keep back, as for future use or for a special purpose.
2. To set or cause to be set apart for a particular person or use. See Synonyms at book.
3. To keep or secure for oneself; retain: I reserve the right to disagree. See Synonyms at keep.
4. Something kept back or saved for future use or a special purpose.
5. The act of reserving.
6. The keeping of one's feelings, thoughts, or affairs to oneself.
7. Self-restraint in expression; reticence: "One feels it everywhere, a quality of reserve, something held back” ( Rollene W. Saal).
8. Lack of enthusiasm; skeptical caution.
9. An amount of capital held back from investment in order to meet probable or possible demands.
10. A reservation of public land: a forest reserve.
11. An amount of a mineral, fossil fuel, or other resource known to exist in a particular location and to be exploitable: the discovery of large oil reserves.
12. A fighting force kept uncommitted until strategic need arises. Often used in the plural.
13. The part of a country's armed forces not on active duty but subject to call in an emergency.
14. Held in or forming a reserve: a reserve supply of food.
15. in reserve Kept back, set aside, or saved.