1.preserve的基本意思是“保持”,指把某物“收藏”或“保存”好,强调要采取措施使某物完好无损或质量不变,可用于有形物,也可用于无形物。引申可表示“维持”。
2.preserve只用作及物动词,接名词、代词作宾语。

preserve from(v.+prep.)
防止; 保护…不… keep sth from sth
▲preserve sth from sth
Salt preserves food from decay.盐能防止食物腐烂。
What can we do to preserve the company from ruin?我们怎么做才能保护这家公司不破产?

用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
We must preserve our natural resources.我们必须保护自然资源。
The ship is equipped with special refrigerating devices to preserve food.船上有特设的冷藏设备,用来保存食物。
It was his firm conviction that every effort should be made to preserve world peace.他坚信应尽一切努力维护世界和平。
It is the duty of the police to preserve public order.维护公共秩序是警察的职责。
I stood there, determined to preserve my dignity.我站在那儿,决心维护自己的尊严。
The comrades must be helped to preserve the style of plain living and hard struggle.务必使同志们保持艰苦奋斗的作风。
◇ 用于be ～ed 结构
Fish are preserved in ice and salt until they are sold.鱼在卖出之前保存于冰和盐中。
I think these interesting old customs should be preserved.我认为这些有趣的旧习俗应该保留下来。

preserve, keep, reserve, retain
参见keep条。
preserve, conserve, hoard, maintain, save, stockpile, store
参见store条。