Crossword Genius

Keep piano book (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

preserve

'keep' is the definition.
(preserving is a kind of keeping)

'piano book' is the wordplay.
'piano' becomes 'p' (musical abbreviation).
'book' becomes 're-serve' (as in booking or reserving in advance).
'p'+'reserve'='PRESERVE'

(Other definitions for preserve that I've seen before include "Toast option" , "Keep from decay in perverse way" , "Refuse to give up" , "Maintain; keep safe" , "Protect; jam" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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