service

[ sur-vis ]

/ ˈsɜr vɪs /

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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

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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

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

Churches can host services for up to 100 worshipers, as long as the venue is no more than half-full.
D.C.’s coronavirus numbers are rising. Here’s what you need to know.|Julie Zauzmer|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
It was shown live on Fox’s streaming service but not on Fox News.
Rudy Giuliani floated ‘dangerous’ and incendiary false claims of election conspiracy — and Fox News broadcast it live|Paul Farhi, Elahe Izadi|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
With the text-messaging service WhatsApp, in particular, Facebook had promised users that it would preserve the messaging company’s independence and strong privacy protections when it was purchased in 2014.
State, federal antitrust lawsuits likely to challenge Facebook for buying rivals and weaponizing data|Tony Romm|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
Apple is cutting by half the fees charged to most developers who sell software and services on the App Store, marking the biggest change to the store’s revenue structure since the iPhone maker launched the service in 2008.
Apple to cut app store fees in half for most developers|Verne Kopytoff|November 18, 2020|Fortune

Of course, the Starbucks loyalty program isn’t a true subscription service, but it incorporates many of the same principles.
How to succeed in the subscriptions business|rhhackettfortune|November 18, 2020|Fortune
“On Candyland, [Minghella] was just servicing Adam,” wrote Belgrad.
Exclusive: Sony Emails Reveal How Studio Dumped ‘Asshole’ Adam Sandler|William Boot|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This gives her again the upper hand, as she is seeking to fix a market price across all digital servicing for her work.
Taylor Swift Dumps Spotify, Igniting Turf War Between Spotify and Apple|Dale Eisinger|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Holland Chevrolet West Virginia-based corporation engaged in selling and servicing motor vehicles.
After Hobby Lobby, These 82 Corporations Could Drop Birth Control Coverage|Abby Haglage|June 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As a result, his bank accounts were frozen, despite his claims he was merely operating a cargo airline servicing African hotspots.
Alla Bout, ‘Merchant of Death’ Viktor Bout’s Wife, Fights to Free Him|Anna Nemtsova|September 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
We have a problem when that argument gives short shrift to the debt-servicing burden.
S&P Goes Tea Party|Zachary Karabell|August 6, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Recently I made $375 in one month in my spare time installing, servicing, selling Radio Sets.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science February 1930|Various
Their businessmen have behind them centuries of experience in bargaining, merchandising, and servicing.
East-West Trade Trends|Harold E. Stassen
The mechanics were working on the planes, performing the necessary maintenance and servicing required after a flight.
Bill Bruce on Forest Patrol|Henry Harley Arnold
As the girl had said, this field boasted hundreds of super-sonic fighters, so many that servicing was a round-the-clock routine.
Triplanetary|Edward Elmer Smith
To his surprise, the boy came back a few minutes later after servicing the automobile.
The Perfectionists|Arnold Castle

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

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