serve
Americanverb (used without object)
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to act as a servant.
- Synonyms:
- attend
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to wait on table, as a waiter.
- Synonyms:
- attend
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to offer or have a meal or refreshments available, as for patrons or guests.
Come early, we're serving at six.
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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.
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to render assistance; be of use; help.
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to go through a term of service, do duty as a soldier, sailor, senator, juror, etc.
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to have definite use.
This cup will serve as a sugar bowl.
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to answer the purpose.
That will serve to explain my actions.
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(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put the ball or shuttlecock in play with a stroke, swing, or hit.
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to be favorable, suitable, or convenient, as weather or time.
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Ecclesiastical. to act as a server.
verb (used with object)
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to be in the service of; work for.
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to be useful or of service to; help.
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to go through (a term of service, imprisonment, etc.).
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to render active service to (a sovereign, commander, etc.).
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to render obedience or homage to (God, a sovereign, etc.).
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to perform the duties of (a position, an office, etc.).
to serve his mayoralty.
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to answer the requirements of; suffice.
This will serve our needs for the moment.
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to contribute to; promote.
to serve a cause.
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to wait upon at table; act as a waiter or waitress to.
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to carry and distribute (portions of food or drink) to a patron or a specific table, as a waiter or waitress.
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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?
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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.
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to provide with a regular or continuous supply of something.
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(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put (the ball or shuttlecock) in play.
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to treat in a specified manner.
That served him ill.
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Law.
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to make legal delivery of (a process or writ).
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to present (a person) with a writ.
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to gratify (desire, wants, needs, etc.).
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(of a male animal) to mate with; service.
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to operate or keep in action (a gun, artillery, etc.).
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Nautical. to wrap (a rope) tightly with small stuff, keeping the turns as close together as possible.
noun
idioms
verb
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to be in the service of (a person)
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to render or be of service to (a person, cause, etc); help
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(in a shop) to give (customers) information about articles for sale and to hand over articles purchased
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(tr) to provide (guests, customers, etc) with food, drink, etc
she served her guests with cocktails
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to distribute or provide (food, drink, etc) for guests, customers, etc
do you serve coffee?
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to present (food, drink, etc) in a specified manner
cauliflower served with cheese sauce
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(tr) to provide with a regular supply of
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(tr) to work actively for
to serve the government
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(tr) to pay homage to
to serve God
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to answer the requirements of; suit
this will serve my purpose
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(intr; may take an infinitive) to have a use; function
this wood will serve to build a fire
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to go through (a period of service, enlistment, imprisonment, etc)
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(intr) (of weather, conditions, etc) to be favourable or suitable
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Also: service. (tr) (of a male animal) to copulate with (a female animal)
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sport to put (the ball) into play
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(intr) RC Church to act as server at Mass or other services
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(tr) to deliver (a legal document, esp a writ or summons) to (a person)
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to provide (a machine, etc) with an impulse or signal for control purposes or with a continuous supply of fuel, working material, etc
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(tr) nautical to bind (a rope, spar, etc) with wire or fine cord to protect it from chafing, etc See also seize
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informal to pay a person back, esp for wrongful or foolish treatment or behaviour
noun
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sport short for service 1
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a portion or helping of food or drink
Other Word Forms
- overserve verb (used with object)
- servable adjective
- serveable adjective
- underserved adjective
- unservable adjective
- unserved adjective
- well-served adjective
Etymology
Origin of serve
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English serven, from Old French servir, from Latin servīre, equivalent to serv(us) “enslaved person” ( serf ) + -īre, infinitive suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As Alexandrova was serving for the second set to level the tie, the ball girl - stood beside the umpire's chair - fell flat on her back before quickly getting back up.
From BBC
The 32nd seed was on the cusp of victory on Kia Arena when he sent down the serve, which confounded Schoolkate who hit his sliced return long.
From Barron's
After Rich Paul, LeBron James’ agent, said the Lakers would be best served by trading Austin Reaves, fans made it clear they favor Reaves over James.
From Los Angeles Times
Fery then had no issue serving out for the second Grand Slam victory - and only the third tour-level win - of his career.
From BBC
The former welfare rights adviser served as MP for Newry and Armagh for almost a decade and was also a former member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
From BBC
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.
