save

save¹

verb

1》 keep safe or rescue from harm or danger.

    ↘prevent from dying.

    ↘(in Christian use) preserve (a soul) from damnation.

2》 store up for future use.

    ↘preserve.

3》 Computing keep (data) by moving a copy to a storage location.

4》 (save it) N. Amer. informal be quiet.

5》 avoid the need to use up or spend.

    ↘avoid, lessen, or guard against.

6》 prevent an opponent from scoring (a goal or point) or from winning (the game).

    ↘Soccer prevent (a shot) from entering the goal.

    ↘Baseball (of a relief pitcher) preserve (a winning position) gained by another pitcher.

noun

1》 chiefly Soccer an act of saving a shot on goal.

    ↘Baseball an instance of saving a winning position.

2》 Computing an act of saving data.

Phrases

save one's breath not bother to say something pointless.

save the day (or situation) provide a solution to a problem.

save someone's skin (or neck or bacon) rescue someone from difficulty.

save the tide Nautical, archaic get in and out of port while the tide lasts.

Derivatives

savable (also saveable) adjective

Origin

ME: from OFr. sauver, from late L. salvare, from L. salvus 'safe'.

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save²

preposition & conj. formal or literary except; other than.

Origin

ME: from OFr. sauf, sauve, from L. salvo, salva (ablative singular of salvus 'safe'), used in phrs such as salvo jure, salva innocentia 'with no violation of right or innocence'.