server

[sur-ver]

noun

1. a person who serves.

2. a person who waits on tables; a waiter or waitress.

3. something that serves or is used in serving, as a salver.

4. a broad fork, spoon, or spatula for dishing out and serving individual portions of food, as vegetables, cake, or pie.

5. Also called altar server. Ecclesiastical.,  an attendant on the priest at Mass, who arranges the altar, makes the responses, etc.

6. (in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) the player who puts the ball or shuttlecock in play.

7. Computers.,  a computer that makes services, as access to data files, programs, and peripheral devices, available to workstations on a network.

server

/ ˈsɜːvə /

noun

1. a person who serves

2. RC Church a person who acts as acolyte or assists the priest at Mass

3. something that is used in serving food and drink

4. the player who serves in racket games

5. computing a computer or program that supplies data or resources to other machines on a network

server

1. A computer that manages centralized data storage or network communications resources. A server provides and organizes access to these resources for other computers linked to it.

server

1. Computer or software that performs administration or coordination functions within a network.

Word History and Origins

Origin of server¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; serve + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

In today’s atmosphere of radical white reassertion, drawing attention to such an honor would risk the disappearance of that now award-winning story, which still lives — and educates the public — on executive branch servers.

From Salon

When the UK's National Crime Agency took down the cyber crime gang LockBit they discovered troves of data still on the criminal's servers that victims had paid to be deleted.

From BBC

Take the Minnesota teen who said a Buffalo Wild Wings server followed her into a women’s restroom and demanded she “prove” she was a girl.

From Salon

His action as its director in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential election campaign, investigating Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, caused a storm.

From BBC

It would mark the end of an era for customers — and servers — who have come to know and love the owners.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• flight attendant 
• hostess 
• stewardess 
• waiter 
• waitress