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serve
[surv]
verb (used without object)
to act as a servant.
Synonyms: attendto wait on table, as a waiter.
Synonyms: attendto offer or have a meal or refreshments available, as for patrons or guests.
Come early, we're serving at six.
to offer or distribute a portion or portions of food or a beverage, as a host or hostess.
It was her turn to serve at the faculty tea.
to render assistance; be of use; help.
to go through a term of service, do duty as a soldier, sailor, senator, juror, etc.
to have definite use.
This cup will serve as a sugar bowl.
to answer the purpose.
That will serve to explain my actions.
(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put the ball or shuttlecock in play with a stroke, swing, or hit.
to be favorable, suitable, or convenient, as weather or time.
Ecclesiastical., to act as a server.
verb (used with object)
to be in the service of; work for.
to be useful or of service to; help.
to go through (a term of service, imprisonment, etc.).
to render active service to (a sovereign, commander, etc.).
to render obedience or homage to (God, a sovereign, etc.).
to perform the duties of (a position, an office, etc.).
to serve his mayoralty.
to answer the requirements of; suffice.
This will serve our needs for the moment.
to contribute to; promote.
to serve a cause.
to wait upon at table; act as a waiter or waitress to.
to carry and distribute (portions of food or drink) to a patron or a specific table, as a waiter or waitress.
to act as a host or hostess in offering (a person) a portion of food or drink.
May I serve you with some tea and cake?
to act as a host or hostess in offering or distributing (a portion or portions of food or drink) to another.
They served tea and cake to their guests.
to provide with a regular or continuous supply of something.
(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put (the ball or shuttlecock) in play.
to treat in a specified manner.
That served him ill.
Law.
to make legal delivery of (a process or writ).
to present (a person) with a writ.
to gratify (desire, wants, needs, etc.).
(of a male animal) to mate with; service.
to operate or keep in action (a gun, artillery, etc.).
Nautical., to wrap (a rope) tightly with small stuff, keeping the turns as close together as possible.
noun
the act, manner, or right of serving, as in tennis.
serve
/ sɜːv /
verb
to be in the service of (a person)
to render or be of service to (a person, cause, etc); help
(in a shop) to give (customers) information about articles for sale and to hand over articles purchased
(tr) to provide (guests, customers, etc) with food, drink, etc
she served her guests with cocktails
to distribute or provide (food, drink, etc) for guests, customers, etc
do you serve coffee?
to present (food, drink, etc) in a specified manner
cauliflower served with cheese sauce
(tr) to provide with a regular supply of
(tr) to work actively for
to serve the government
(tr) to pay homage to
to serve God
to answer the requirements of; suit
this will serve my purpose
(intr; may take an infinitive) to have a use; function
this wood will serve to build a fire
to go through (a period of service, enlistment, imprisonment, etc)
(intr) (of weather, conditions, etc) to be favourable or suitable
Also: service. (tr) (of a male animal) to copulate with (a female animal)
sport to put (the ball) into play
(intr) RC Church to act as server at Mass or other services
(tr) to deliver (a legal document, esp a writ or summons) to (a person)
to provide (a machine, etc) with an impulse or signal for control purposes or with a continuous supply of fuel, working material, etc
(tr) nautical to bind (a rope, spar, etc) with wire or fine cord to protect it from chafing, etc See also seize
informal, to pay a person back, esp for wrongful or foolish treatment or behaviour
noun
sport short for service 1
a portion or helping of food or drink
Other Word Forms
- servable adjective
- serveable adjective
- overserve verb (used with object)
- underserved adjective
- unservable adjective
- unserved adjective
- well-served adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of serve1
Idioms and Phrases
serve one right, to treat one as one deserves, especially to punish justly.
It will serve you right if she never speaks to you again.
More idioms and phrases containing serve
- break someone's serve
- first come, first served
- hand to on a silver platter (serve up on a plate)
Example Sentences
Stablecoins, if deployed on the back end, would allow these institutions to better serve their customers.
Bryan, whose parents were also both in the Navy, added, “I served this country, I love this country, and the song itself is about all of us coming out of this divided space.”
Every close encounter serves as both a reminder of Earth's vulnerability and a demonstration of the growing precision of modern astronomy.
Joel has served as a Visiting Scholar of Race, Religion, and Politics at the University of St. Thomas and is a graduate of Wheaton College and Duke University.
It is the Thursday after Ricky Hatton died and the Cheshire Cheese pub in Gee Cross, one of the boxer's locals, is serving up drinks as regulars chat away.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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