service

[ sur-vis ]

/ ˈsɜr vɪs /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for service on Thesaurus.com

noun

an act of helpful activity; help; aid: to do someone a service.

the supplying or supplier of utilities or commodities, as water, electricity, or gas, required or demanded by the public.

the providing or a provider of accommodation and activities required by the public, as maintenance, repair, etc.: The manufacturer guarantees service and parts.

the organized system of apparatus, appliances, employees, etc., for supplying some accommodation required by the public: a television repair service.

the supplying or a supplier of public communication and transportation: telephone service;bus service.

the performance of duties or the duties performed as or by a waiter or servant; occupation or employment as a waiter or servant.

employment in any duties or work for a person, organization, government, etc.

a department of public employment, an administrative division of a government, or the body of public servants in it: the diplomatic service.

the duty or work of public servants.

the serving of a sovereign, state, or government in some official capacity.

Military.

the armed forces: in the service.
a branch of the armed forces, as the army or navy: Which service were you in during the war?

Ordnance. the actions required in loading and firing a cannon: service of the piece.

Often services . the performance of any duties or work for another; helpful or professional activity: medical services.

something made or done by a commercial organization for the public benefit and without regard to direct profit: Certain books are published at a loss as a public service.

Also called divine service . public religious worship according to prescribed form and order.

a ritual or form prescribed for public worship or for some particular occasion: the marriage service.

the serving of God by obedience, piety, etc.: voluntary service.

a musical setting of the sung portions of a liturgy.

a set of dishes, utensils, etc., for general table use or for particular use: a tea service;service for eight.

answering service.

Law. the serving of a process or writ upon a person.

Nautical. tarred spun yarn or other small stuff for covering the exterior of a rope.

(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.)

the act or manner of putting the ball or shuttlecock into play; serve.
the ball or shuttlecock as put into play.

the mating of a female animal with the male.

adjective

of service; useful.

of, relating to, or used by servants, delivery people, etc., or in serving food: service stairs;the service pieces in a set of dishes.

supplying aids or services rather than products or goods: Medicine is one of the service professions.

supplying maintenance and repair: He operates a service center for electrical appliances.

of, for, or pertaining to the armed forces of a country or one of them: a service academy.

charged for providing service: a service fee of 15 percent on the restaurant check.

providing, authorizing, or guaranteeing service: a service industry;a service contract.

verb (used with object), serv·iced, serv·ic·ing.

to make fit for use; repair; restore to condition for service: to service an automobile.

to supply with aid, information, or other incidental services.

(of a male animal) to mate with (a female animal).

Finance. to pay off (a debt) over a period of time, as by meeting periodic interest payments.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about service

at someone's service, ready to be of help or use to someone; at one's disposal: You will have an English-speaking guide at your service.

be of service, to be helpful or useful: If we can be of service, do not hesitate to call.

Origin of service

First recorded before 1100; Middle English (noun), from Old French, from Latin servitium “servitude,” equivalent to serv(us) “slave” + -itium noun suffix (see -ice); replacing Middle English servise, late Old English serfise “ceremony,” from Old French servise, variant of service

OTHER WORDS FROM service

un·serv·iced, adjective

Words nearby service

serve time, Servetus, serve up, Servia, Servian, service, serviceable, service animal, service area, serviceberry, service book

Other definitions for service (2 of 3)

service²

[ sur-vis ]

/ ˈsɜr vɪs /

noun

a European or North American service tree, especially Sorbus domestica.

Origin of service

First recorded in 1520–30; earlier serves, plural of obsolete serve “service tree”; Middle English; Old English syrfe, from unattested Vulgar Latin sorbea, derivative of Latin sorbus sorb¹

Other definitions for service (3 of 3)

Service

[ sur-vis ]

/ ˈsɜr vɪs /

noun

Robert W(illiam), 1874–1958, Canadian writer, born in England.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use service in a sentence

Beirut-based music streaming service Anghami was founded by necessity, as many startups often are.
The Biggest Challenge for Apple and Spotify in North Africa: YouTube|Eromo Egbejule|September 17, 2020|Ozy
If he suddenly decided to go to Bedminster in May, the service wanted to be ready.
Trump’s businesses charged Secret Service more than $1.1 million, including for rooms in club shuttered for pandemic|David Fahrenthold, Josh Dawsey|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
Laundry is a part of your life, whether you drop it off at a service, haul it to a laundromat, or do it yourself at home.
Attractive laundry hampers that make your dirty clothes look a little better|PopSci Commerce Team|September 16, 2020|Popular-Science
There is nothing anticompetitive about charging others to use one’s service.
Apple says Epic is acting as ‘a saboteur, not a martyr’ in app store challenge|radmarya|September 16, 2020|Fortune

In July, it urged Facebook advertisers to temporarily pause their ads on the service.
Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, and Leonardo DiCaprio plan one-day Instagram boycott. Here’s why|Danielle Abril|September 15, 2020|Fortune
Yazbek tells The Daily Beast that the traffickers guarantee their service, and they treat the Syrian refugees with respect.
Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Like any service for hire, it is extremely important for the traffickers to provide a reputable service, criminal as it is.
Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Henri Paul actually worked for the French Secret Service and he had €200,000 in his account when he only earned €30,000 a year.
Harry’s Daddy, and Diana’s ‘Murder’: Royal Rumors In a New Play|Tom Sykes|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A soldier in the service of ideals and aspirations that formed his core.
Mario Cuomo, Always Moving Us Toward the Light|Mike Barnicle|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As zealots poured in from Arkansas and Mississippi, a wire service reporter got punched in the ribs.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The proceedings of the day commenced with divine service, performed by Unitarian and Baptist ministers.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
The badness of the gunpowder used by the Mexicans, was again of great service to us.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
For this use of the voice in the special service of will-power, or propelling force, it is necessary first to test its freedom.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
He began his military career at the age of 11, and continued in the service nearly 60 years.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
And now, monsieur, if you will communicate to me the nature of your affair, you shall find me entirely at your service.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for service (1 of 3)

service¹

/ (ˈsɜːvɪs) /

noun

an act of help or assistance

an organized system of labour and material aids used to supply the needs of the publictelephone service; bus service

the supply, installation, or maintenance of goods carried out by a dealer

the state of availability for use by the public (esp in the phrases into or out of service)

a periodic overhaul made on a car, machine, etc

the act or manner of serving guests, customers, etc, in a shop, hotel, restaurant, etc

a department of public employment and its employeescivil service

employment in or performance of work for anotherhe has been in the service of our firm for ten years

the work of a public servant

one of the branches of the armed forces
(as modifier)service life

the state, position, or duties of a domestic servant (esp in the phrase in service)

the act or manner of serving food

a complete set of dishes, cups, etc, for use at table

public worship carried out according to certain prescribed formsdivine service

the prescribed form according to which a specific kind of religious ceremony is to be carried outthe burial service

a unified collection of musical settings of the canticles and other liturgical items prescribed by the Book of Common Prayer as used in the Church of England

sport

the act, manner, or right of serving a ball
the game in which a particular player serveshe has lost his service Often shortened to: serve

(in feudal law) the duty owed by a tenant to his lord

the serving of a writ, summons, etc, upon a person

nautical a length of tarred marline or small stuff used in serving

(of male animals) the act of mating

(modifier) of, relating to, or for the use of servants or employees

(modifier) serving the public rather than producing goods

verb (tr)

to provide service or services

to make fit for use

to supply with assistance

to overhaul (a car, machine, etc)

(of a male animal) to mate with (a female)

British to meet interest and capital payments on (debt)

Word Origin for service

C12 servise, from Old French, from Latin servitium condition of a slave, from servus a slave

British Dictionary definitions for service (2 of 3)

service²

/ (ˈsɜːvɪs) /

noun

See service tree

British Dictionary definitions for service (3 of 3)

Service

/ ('sɜːvɪs) /

noun

Robert (William). 1874–1958, Canadian poet, born in England; noted for his ballad-like poems of gold-rush era Yukon, such as 'The Shooting of Dan McGrew'; his books include Songs of a Sourdough (1907)

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with service

service

see at someone's service; break someone's serve (service); lip service; of service to someone; press into service.

service

Idioms about service

Origin of service

OTHER WORDS FROM service

Words nearby service

Other definitions for service (2 of 3)

Origin of service

Other definitions for service (3 of 3)

Words related to service

How to use service in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for service (1 of 3)

Word Origin for service

British Dictionary definitions for service (2 of 3)

British Dictionary definitions for service (3 of 3)

Other Idioms and Phrases with service