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Definitions for Serve

[1] to act as a servant.
[2] to wait on table, as a waiter.
[3] to offer or have a meal or refreshments available, as for patrons or guests: Come early, we're serving at six.
[4] 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.
[5] to render assistance; be of use; help.
[6] to go through a term of service, do duty as a soldier, sailor, senator, juror, etc.
[7] to have definite use: This cup will serve as a sugar bowl.
[8] to answer the purpose: That will serve to explain my actions.
[9] (in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put the ball or shuttlecock in play with a stroke, swing, or hit.
[10] to be favorable, suitable, or convenient, as weather or time.
[11] Ecclesiastical . to act as a server.
[12] to be in the service of; work for.
[13] to be useful or of service to; help.
[14] to go through (a term of service, imprisonment, etc.).
[15] to render active service to (a sovereign, commander, etc.).
[16] to render obedience or homage to (God, a sovereign, etc.).
[17] to perform the duties of (a position, an office, etc.): to serve his mayoralty.
[18] to answer the requirements of; suffice: This will serve our needs for the moment.
[19] to contribute to; promote: to serve a cause.
[20] to wait upon at table; act as a waiter or waitress to.
[21] to carry and distribute (portions of food or drink) to a patron or a specific table, as a waiter or waitress.
[22] 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?
[23] 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.
[24] to provide with a regular or continuous supply of something.
[25] (in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put (the ball or shuttlecock) in play.
[26] to treat in a specified manner: That served him ill.
[27] Law . to make legal delivery of (a process or writ). to present (a person) with a writ.
[28] to gratify (desire, wants, needs, etc.).
[29] (of a male animal) to mate with; service.
[30] to operate or keep in action (a gun, artillery, etc.).
[31] Nautical . to wrap (a rope) tightly with small stuff, keeping the turns as close together as possible.
[32] the act, manner, or right of serving, as in tennis.
[33] 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.
[34] to be in the service of (a person)
[35] to render or be of service to (a person, cause, etc); help
[36] (in a shop) to give (customers) information about articles for sale and to hand over articles purchased
[37] (tr) to provide (guests, customers, etc) with food, drink, etc she served her guests with cocktails
[38] to distribute or provide (food, drink, etc) for guests, customers, etc do you serve coffee?
[39] (tr sometimes foll by up ) to present (food, drink, etc) in a specified manner cauliflower served with cheese sauce
[40] (tr) to provide with a regular supply of
[41] (tr) to work actively for to serve the government
[42] (tr) to pay homage to to serve God
[43] to answer the requirements of; suit this will serve my purpose
[44] (intr; may take an infinitive) to have a use; function this wood will serve to build a fire
[45] to go through (a period of service, enlistment, imprisonment, etc)
[46] (intr) (of weather, conditions, etc) to be favourable or suitable
[47] Also: service (tr) (of a male animal) to copulate with (a female animal)
[48] sport to put (the ball) into play
[49] (intr) RC Church to act as server at Mass or other services
[50] (tr) to deliver (a legal document, esp a writ or summons) to (a person)
[51] to provide (a machine, etc) with an impulse or signal for control purposes or with a continuous supply of fuel, working material, etc
[52] (tr) nautical to bind (a rope, spar, etc) with wire or fine cord to protect it from chafing, etc See also seize (def. 8)
[53] serve a person right informal to pay a person back, esp for wrongful or foolish treatment or behaviour
[54] sport short for service 1 (def. 17)
[55] Australian a portion or helping of food or drink

Words related to Serve

play, handle, give, provide, distribute, deliver, hit, present, complete, attend, perform, work, accept, pass, follow, do, make, benefit, deal, oblige

Words nearby Serve

serumal, serv., serval, servant, servant church, serve, serve a purpose, serve one right, serve time, serve up, server

Origin of Serve

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

Other words from Serve

serv·a·ble , serve·a·ble , adjective
o·ver·serve , verb (used with object)
un·der·served , adjective
un·serv·a·ble , adjective
un·served , adjective
well-served , adjective

Word origin for Serve

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

Synonyms for Serve

deliver, distribute, give, handle, hit, play, present, provide, arrange, assist, deal, nurse, oblige, provision, succor, attend to, be of assistance, be of use, care for, dish up, do for, minister to, set out, wait on, work for