* Verb (past participle): When used to describe something that has been kept safe or in good condition, it's a verb in its past participle form.
* Example: "The ancient scrolls were preserved in a sealed vault."
* Adjective: It can also act as an adjective, meaning "kept safe" or "in a good condition."
* Example: "The preserved fruit tasted like it was fresh from the orchard."
The specific part of speech depends on the context of the sentence.