On Definitions

Let's define the word "conservative."

Conservative: From Meriam Webster

• ¹con·ser·va·tive
• Pronunciation: \kən-ˈsər-və-tiv\
• Function: adjective
• Date: 14th century

1 : preservative
2 a : of or relating to a philosophy of conservatism b capitalized : of or constituting a political party professing the principles of conservatism: as (1) : of or constituting a party of the United Kingdom advocating support of established institutions (2) : progressive conservative
3 a : tending or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions : traditional b : marked by moderation or caution conservative estimate> c : marked by or relating to traditional norms of taste, elegance, style, or manners
4 : of, relating to, or practicing Conservative Judaism

Conservative: from Thefreedictionary
con·ser·va·tive (kn-sûrv-tv)

adj.

1. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change.

2. Traditional or restrained in style: a conservative dark suit.

3. Moderate; cautious: a conservative estimate.

4.

a. Of or relating to the political philosophy of conservatism.

b. Belonging to a conservative party, group, or movement.

5. Conservative Of or belonging to the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.

6. Conservative Of or adhering to Conservative Judaism.

7. Tending to conserve; preservative: the conservative use of natural resources.

n.

1. One favoring traditional views and values.

2. A supporter of political conservatism.

3. Conservative A member or supporter of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada.

4. Archaic A preservative agent or principle.

con⋅serv⋅a⋅tive

  /kənˈsɜrvətɪv/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kuhn-sur-vuh-tiv] Show IPA

Use conservative in a Sentence

–adjective

1.	disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.

2.	cautiously moderate or purposefully low: a conservative estimate.

3.	traditional in style or manner; avoiding novelty or showiness: conservative suit.

4.	(often initial capital letter) of or pertaining to the Conservative party.

5.	(initial capital letter) of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Conservative Jews or Conservative Judaism.

6.	having the power or tendency to conserve; preservative.

7.	Mathematics. (of a vector or vector function) having curl equal to zero; irrotational; lamellar.

–noun

8.	a person who is conservative in principles, actions, habits, etc.

9.	a supporter of conservative political policies.

10.	(initial capital letter) a member of a conservative political party, esp. the Conservative party in Great Britain.

11.	a preservative.

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Origin:
1350–1400; < class="ital-inline">conservātīvus, equiv. to L conservāt(us) (see conservation ) + -īvus -ive; r. ME conservatif < MF < class="luna-Img" src="http://cache.lexico.com/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" alt="" border="0">

Related forms:

con⋅serv⋅a⋅tive⋅ly, adverb

con⋅serv⋅a⋅tive⋅ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To conservative

con·ser·va·tive (kən-sûr'və-tĭv) adj. Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change. Traditional or restrained in style: a conservative dark suit. Moderate; cautious: a conservative estimate. Of or relating to the political philosophy of conservatism. Belonging to a conservative party, group, or movement. Conservative Of or belonging to the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada. Conservative Of or adhering to Conservative Judaism. Tending to conserve; preservative: the conservative use of natural resources. n. One favoring traditional views and values. A supporter of political conservatism. Conservative A member or supporter of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom or the Progressive Conservative Party in Canada. Archaic A preservative agent or principle. con·ser'va·tive·ly adv., con·ser'va·tive·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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con·serve (kn-sûrv)

v. con·served, con·serv·ing, con·serves

v.tr.1.

a. To protect from loss or harm; preserve: calls to conserve our national heritage in the face of bewildering change.

b. To use carefully or sparingly, avoiding waste