reservation

Noun

reservation (countable and uncountable, plural reservations)

1. The act of reserving, withholding or keeping back.
   • The committee authorised the reservation of funds.
   1. The practice of reserving part of the consecrated bread of the Eucharist for the communion of the sick.
   2. The act of the pope to reserve to himself the right to nominate to certain benefices.
2. Something that is withheld or kept back.
3. (in plural, often) A limiting qualification regarding certainty or risk; a doubt or concern.
   • I have reservations about your intentions.
   • I have some reservations about cosigning a loan for him.
4. (US) A tract of land set apart by the US government for the use of a Native American people, such as the Hopi Reservation or the Navajo Nation's territory.

   Synonyms:

   reserve, res, rez, rezzy

5. An arrangement by which accommodation or transport arrangements are secured in advance.
   • I have a hotel reservation in the name of Mr Smith.
   • I haven't booked, so I don't have a clue as to whether the service will be busy or not. Supposedly, reservations are compulsory, but I want to find out what would happen if you just turn up.2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 68

   Synonyms:

   booking

6. (UK) The area which separates opposing lanes of traffic on a divided motorway or dual carriageway.
   • A vehicle crashed through the central reservation into the path of oncoming traffic.
   • A three-lane motorway can be up to (or even more than) 35 metres wide, with a hard shoulder on either side and a central reservation.2023 August 23, Chris Howe, “Green screen: HS2's route through the shires”, in RAIL, number 990, page 34

   Synonyms:

   central reservation, median, median strip

7. (India) The setting aside of a certain percentage of vacancies in government institutions for members of backward and underrepresented communities (defined primarily by caste and tribe).
8. A power of an overseeing authority to suspend legislation in the jurisdiction being overseen pending the approval of a higher authority. Such as a provincial/state governor reserving a bill passed by the state/provincial legislature from assent, pending approval of the federal government; or a federal bill passed by federal parliament being reserved by the viceroy pending approval by the crown.