LIFE PRESERVER

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does life preserver mean? 

• LIFE PRESERVER (noun)
  The noun LIFE PRESERVER has 1 sense:

1. rescue equipment consisting of a buoyant belt or jacket to keep a person from drowning

  Familiarity information: LIFE PRESERVER used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LIFE PRESERVER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Rescue equipment consisting of a buoyant belt or jacket to keep a person from drowning

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

flotation device; life preserver; preserver

Hypernyms ("life preserver" is a kind of...):

float (something that floats on the surface of water)

rescue equipment (equipment used to rescue passengers in case of emergency)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "life preserver"):

life belt; life buoy; life ring; lifesaver (a life preserver in the form of a ring of buoyant material)

cork jacket; life jacket; life vest (life preserver consisting of a sleeveless jacket of buoyant or inflatable design)

water wings (a life preserver consisting of a connected pair of inflatable bags that fit under a person's arms and provide buoyancy; used by children learning to swim)

 Context examples 

He glanced at Ruth for reassurance, much in the same manner that a passenger, with sudden panic thought of possible shipwreck, will strive to locate the life preservers.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Following Mr. Dashwood's directions, and making Mrs. Northbury her model, Jo rashly took a plunge into the frothy sea of sensational literature, but thanks to the life preserver thrown her by a friend, she came up again not much the worse for her ducking.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)