reserve

If you reserve a room, a table, seat etc. you arrange for it to be kept for you, usually for a particular date and time.

Example: This parking spot is reserved for the general manager.

When you're cooking, if you reserve something, you put it aside to use later.

Example: Cook pasta as directed on package and reserve 1/4 cup of pasta cooking water.

If you reserve something for a particular situation, you usually don't use it except in that situation.

Example: She spoke to me in a voice usually reserved for young children.

If you reserve the right to do something, you let people know that these are your legal rights and you may use or defend them.

Example: This program is copyrighted © 2008 by CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Reserves are extra amounts of something that are for the future.

Example: Canada has 179 billion barrels of oil reserves - second only to Saudi Arabia.