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serve
[ surv ]
verb (used without object)
- to act as a servant.
Synonyms:
- to wait on table, as a waiter.
Synonyms:
- 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.
Synonyms: ,
- 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)
- 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.
serve
/ ɜː /
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, etc
she served her guests with cocktails
- to distribute or provide (food, drink, etc) for guests, customers, etc
do you serve coffee?
- trsometimes foll byup to present (food, drink, etc) in a specified manner
cauliflower served with cheese sauce
- tr to provide with a regular supply of
- tr to work actively for
to serve the government
- tr to pay homage to
to serve God
- to answer the requirements of; suit
this will serve my purpose
- intr; may take an infinitive to have a use; function
this 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
- Alsoservice 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, etc See also seize
- serve a person right informal.to pay a person back, esp for wrongful or foolish treatment or behaviour
noun
- sport short for service 1
- a portion or helping of food or drink
Derived Forms
- ˈ, adjective
Other 51Թ Forms
- a· a· adjective
- v· verb (used with object)
- ܲd· adjective
- un·a· adjective
- ܲ· adjective
- ɱ- adjective
51Թ History and Origins
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of serve1
Idioms and Phrases
- 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.
More idioms and phrases containing serve
- break someone's serve
- first come, first served
- hand to on a silver platter (serve up on a plate)
Example Sentences
“The California State Library remains committed to serving all of the people of California and will explore alternative means to ensure continued access to essential library services.”
Both were also served with a restraining order preventing them from contacting P in future.
Among them was 5 Star Bar, an authentic dive bar that served cheap beer, grilled simple, tasty burgers and hosted live music.
A wooden platform and benches in the center of the garden serve as a focal point for performances and events.
Some of the alleged abuse took place while Daniel was supposed to be serving as a neutral monitor for Darthard’s DCFS-sanctioned visits with her son.
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Related 51Թs
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.
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