'structure-conserving' is a compound formed from 'structure' and the present-participle form 'conserving'. 'Structure' ultimately comes from Latin 'structura' meaning 'a fitting together, building', via Old French/Late Latin; 'conserving' comes from Latin 'conservare', where the prefix 'con-' meant 'together/with' and 'servare' meant 'to keep'.

'structure' passed into English via Middle French/Latin as 'structura' and became 'structure' in Middle English; 'conservare' passed into Old French as 'conserver' and into Middle English as 'conserve', with the present participle forming modern English 'conserving'. The compound 'structure-conserving' is a modern English formation combining these elements.

The components originally referred to 'building/arrangement' ('structure') and 'to keep' ('conservare'); combined, the modern compound has the specialized meaning 'keeping or preserving that arrangement', used in technical contexts.