reserve

/ri-ˈzərv/

Middle English, from Anglo-French reserver, from Latin reservare, literally, to keep back, from re- + servare to keep

verb

  1. to hold in reserve : keep, back

  2. to set aside (part of the consecrated elements) at the Eucharist for future use

  3. to retain or hold over to a future time or place : defer

reserve grain for seed

keep retain detain withhold reserve mean to hold in one's possession or under one's control. keep may suggest a holding securely in one's possession, custody, or control. retain implies continued keeping, especially against threatened seizure or forced loss.

noun

  1. something reserved or set aside for a particular purpose, use, or reason: such as

  2. a military force withheld from action for later decisive use —usually used in plural

  3. forces not in the field but available

noun

  1. a central bank holding reserves of other banks