What's the difference between the word "conserve" and "preserve"? Could you give me a concrete example??

Question

I was just puzzled by the two. ~~~

Answer 1

I LOVE words and am an aspiring writer. To conserve something is to tend it; care for it to the point that it does not become tattered. It means to store and save. As a runner, I want to conserve as much energy as possible to finish the race.

If I am interested in preserving something (the two words are synonyms) I am making sure it doesn't deteriorate any further. I make picture albums to preserve the adventures of my children.

They are very close and can be used interchangeably on most occasions. Think of the conservation of our planet and the preservation of our rain forests. Do you see how they are similar and yet different? Synonyms love. Nana

Answer 2

There is some overlap in meaning between the two. See below..
PRESERVE
v.tr.
1. To maintain in safety from injury, peril, or harm; protect.
2. To keep in perfect or unaltered condition; maintain unchanged.
3. To keep or maintain intact: tried to preserve family harmony. See synonyms at defend.
4. To prepare (food) for future use, as by canning or salting.
5. To prevent (organic bodies) from decaying or spoiling.
6. To keep or protect (game or fish) for one's private hunting or fishing.

v.intr.

1. To treat fruit or other foods so as to prevent decay.
2. To maintain a private area stocked with game or fish.

CONSERVE
v.tr.

1.
1. To protect from loss or harm; preserve: calls to conserve our national heritage in the face of bewildering change.
2. To use carefully or sparingly, avoiding waste: kept the thermostat lower to conserve energy.
2. To keep (a quantity) constant through physical or chemical reactions or evolutionary changes.
3. To preserve (fruits) with sugar.

v.intr.

To economize: tried to conserve on fuel during the long winter.

Answer 3

Conserve and preserve are synonyms.

To conserve is more often to use carefully or sparingly, avoiding waste. Such as:
"I kept the thermostat lower to conserve energy."

To preserve is to maintain in safety from injury, peril, or harm; protect. Such as:
"We preserved an ancient artifact to show later generations."

Conserve has the same meaning as preserve, but it is more often used as "to use carefully or sparingly".

Answer 4

Conserve is based on attempting NOT to use something in order to preserve it (ie., energy, money). Preserve is something you already have that you'd like to keep (in good condition, ie., a family heirloom, sanity). This is a simple way of explaining it.

Answer 5

Seems like conserving would be more like rationing. Preserving would be keeping the food edible while you conserve it.

Answer 6

conserve from
conservar= to conserve, keep, maintain

preserve from
preservar = to preserve, guard, keep safe

Answer 7

Conserve means to "use less" when possible.
Preserve means to "keep safe", or to "hold on to".