serve

to 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.

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 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.

(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?

(tr sometimes foll by up) 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 (def. 8)

serve a person right informal to pay a person back, esp for wrongful or foolish treatment or behaviour