service
1the 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
1Other words from service
- un·serv·iced, adjective
Words Nearby service
Other definitions for service (2 of 3)
a European or North American service tree, especially Sorbus domestica.
Origin of service
2Other definitions for Service (3 of 3)
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 | OzyIf 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 PostLaundry 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-ScienceThere 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 | FortuneIn 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.
Like any service for hire, it is extremely important for the traffickers to provide a reputable service, criminal as it is.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTA soldier in the service of ideals and aspirations that formed his core.
As zealots poured in from Arkansas and Mississippi, a wire service reporter got punched in the ribs.
The proceedings of the day commenced with divine service, performed by Unitarian and Baptist ministers.
The badness of the gunpowder used by the Mexicans, was again of great service to us.
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 SouthwickHe 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 MunsellAnd 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)
/ (ˈsɜːvɪs) /
an act of help or assistance
an organized system of labour and material aids used to supply the needs of the public: telephone 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 employees: civil service
employment in or performance of work for another: he 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 forms: divine service
the prescribed form according to which a specific kind of religious ceremony is to be carried out: the 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 serves: he 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
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)
Origin of service
1- See also services
British Dictionary definitions for service (2 of 3)
/ (ˈsɜːvɪs) /
See service tree
British Dictionary definitions for Service (3 of 3)
/ ('sɜːvɪs) /
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
see at someone's service; break someone's serve (service); lip service; of service to someone; press into service.
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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