serve

[surv]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR serve ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), served, serv·ing.

to act as a servant.

to wait on table, as a waiter.

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.

verb (used with object), served, serv·ing.

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.

Nearby words

Idioms

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.

Origin of serve

1125–75; Middle English serven < Old French servir < Latin servīre, equivalent to serv(us) slave (cf. serf) + -īre infinitive suffix

SYNONYMS FOR serve

1, 2. attend. 5. aid, succor.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR serve ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

serv·a·ble, serve·a·ble, adjectiveo·ver·serve, verb (used with object)un·der·served, adjectiveun·serv·a·ble, adjective

un·served, adjectivewell-served, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for served

The Pentagon said Faal served in the Air Force for seven years, during which time he became a U.S. citizen.
The Shadowy U.S. Veteran Who Tried to Overthrow a Country|Jacob Siegel|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Those who served abroad were treated with suspicion that they had been infected by European diplomacy.
U.S. Embassies Have Always Been for Sale|William O’Connor|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He served the community well, but he clearly has to make a decision based on why he left.
Will Dirty Pol Vito Fossella Replace Dirty Pol Michael Grimm?|David Freedlander|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His son, Yaqoob Bizenjo, served as a member of the National Assembly until 2013.
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan|Umar Farooq|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In 21 years of operation, La Domaine has served over 6,000 clients from over 25 different countries and nearly 500 couples.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A piece of old carpet was my saddle, and served me likewise for a seat, a table, and various other purposes.
Travels in Arabia|Bayard Taylor
He had ordered a hot meal to be served, and when he came down he found the table spread for him.
Young Auctioneers|Edward Stratemeyer
The cupboard was in an antechamber which served as the public passage by which the apartments of Madame were reached.
The Memoirs of Louis XIV., His Court and The Regency, Complete|Duc de Saint-Simon
It served to cheat away a tedious hour, and I returned to my tent fatigued and half sick.
Personal Memoirs Of A Residence Of Thirty Years With The Indian Tribes On The American Frontiers|Henry Rowe Schoolcraft
"I did it too late," he said, emphasizing the point which served for Jewdwine's vindication.
The Divine Fire|May Sinclair

British Dictionary definitions for served

serve

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, etcshe served her guests with cocktails

to distribute or provide (food, drink, etc) for guests, customers, etcdo you serve coffee?

(tr sometimes foll by up) to present (food, drink, etc) in a specified mannercauliflower served with cheese sauce

(tr) to provide with a regular supply of

(tr) to work actively forto serve the government

(tr) to pay homage toto serve God

to answer the requirements of; suitthis will serve my purpose

(intr; may take an infinitive) to have a use; functionthis 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, etcSee also seize (def. 8)

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

noun

sport short for service 1 (def. 17)

Australian a portion or helping of food or drink

Derived Formsservable or serveable, adjective

Word Origin for serve

C13: from Old French servir, from Latin servīre, from servus a slave

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for served

served

adj.

"found guilty, convicted; ordered to be punished or transported; beaten," 1811, slang past participle adjective from serve (v.).

serve

late 12c., "to render habitual obedience to," also "minister, give aid, give help," from Old French servir "to do duty toward, show devotion to; set table, serve at table; offer, provide with," from Latin servire "be a servant, be in service, be enslaved;" figuratively "be devoted; be governed by; comply with; conform; flatter," originally "be a slave," related to servus "slave," perhaps from Etruscan (cf. Etruscan proper names Servi, Serve, Latinized as Servius).

By c.1200 also as "to be in the service of, perform a service for; attend upon, be personal servant to; be a slave; owe allegiance to; officiate at Mass or other religious rites;" from early 13c. as "set food at table;" mid-14c. as "to wait on (customers)." From late 14c. as "treat (someone or something) in some fashion." To serve (someone) right "to treat as he deserves" is recorded from 1580s.

He no schuld neuer wond
To seruen him fro fot to hond
["Amis and Amiloun," c.1330]

Sense of "be useful, be beneficial, be suitable for a purpose or function" is from early 14c.; that of "take the place or meet the needs of, be equal to the task" is from late 14c.; that of "suffice" is from mid-15c. Meaning "render active military service" is from 1510s. Sporting sense, in tennis, badminton, etc., first recorded 1580s. Legal sense "present" (a writ, warrant,etc.), "give legal notice of" is from early 15c.

serve

1680s, in sports (tennis, etc.), from serve (v.).

Idioms and Phrases with served

serve

In addition to the idioms beginning with serve

serve a purpose
serve one right
serve time
serve up

also see:

break someone's serve
first come, first served
hand to on a silver platter (serve up on a plate)

serve

verb (used without object), served, serv·ing.

verb (used with object), served, serv·ing.

noun

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