service

¹

[ sur-vis ]

noun

1. an act of helpful activity; help; aid:

   to do someone a service.

2. the supplying or supplier of utilities or commodities, as water, electricity, or gas, required or demanded by the public.
3. the providing or a provider of accommodation and activities required by the public, as maintenance, repair, etc.:

   The manufacturer guarantees service and parts.

4. the organized system of apparatus, appliances, employees, etc., for supplying some accommodation required by the public:

   a television repair service.

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

   telephone service;

   bus service.

6. the performance of duties or the duties performed as or by a waiter or servant; occupation or employment as a waiter or servant.
7. employment in any duties or work for a person, organization, government, etc.
8. a department of public employment, an administrative division of a government, or the body of public servants in it:

   the diplomatic service.

9. the duty or work of public servants.
10. the serving of a sovereign, state, or government in some official capacity.
11. Military.
    1. the armed forces:

       in the service.

    2. a branch of the armed forces, as the army or navy:

       Which service were you in during the war?

12. Ordnance. the actions required in loading and firing a cannon:

    service of the piece.

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

    medical services.

14. 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.

15. Also called divine service. public religious worship according to prescribed form and order.
16. a ritual or form prescribed for public worship or for some particular occasion:

    the marriage service.

17. the serving of God by obedience, piety, etc.:

    voluntary service.

18. a musical setting of the sung portions of a liturgy.
19. a set of dishes, utensils, etc., for general table use or for particular use:

    a tea service;

    service for eight.

20. answering service.
21. Law. the serving of a process or writ upon a person.
22. Nautical. tarred spun yarn or other small stuff for covering the exterior of a rope.
23. (in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.)
    1. the act or manner of putting the ball or shuttlecock into play; serve.
    2. the ball or shuttlecock as put into play.
24. the mating of a female animal with the male.

adjective

1. of service; useful.
2. of, relating to, or used by servants, delivery people, etc., or in serving food:

   service stairs;

   the service pieces in a set of dishes.

3. supplying aids or services rather than products or goods:

   Medicine is one of the service professions.

4. supplying maintenance and repair:

   He operates a service center for electrical appliances.

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

   a service academy.

6. charged for providing service:

   a service fee of 15 percent on the restaurant check.

7. providing, authorizing, or guaranteeing service: a service contract.

   a service industry;

   a service contract.

verb (used with object)

, serv·iced, serv·ic·ing.

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

   to service an automobile.

2. to supply with aid, information, or other incidental services.
3. (of a male animal) to mate with (a female animal).
4. Finance. to pay off (a debt) over a period of time, as by meeting periodic interest payments.

service

²

[ sur-vis ]

noun

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

Service

³

[ sur-vis ]

noun

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

service

¹

/ ˈsɜːvɪs /

noun

1. an act of help or assistance
2. an organized system of labour and material aids used to supply the needs of the public

   bus service

   telephone service

3. the supply, installation, or maintenance of goods carried out by a dealer
4. the state of availability for use by the public (esp in the phrases into or out of service )
5. a periodic overhaul made on a car, machine, etc
6. the act or manner of serving guests, customers, etc, in a shop, hotel, restaurant, etc
7. a department of public employment and its employees

   civil service

8. employment in or performance of work for another

   he has been in the service of our firm for ten years

9. the work of a public servant
10. 1. one of the branches of the armed forces
    2. ( as modifier )

       service life

11. the state, position, or duties of a domestic servant (esp in the phrase in service )
12. the act or manner of serving food
13. a complete set of dishes, cups, etc, for use at table
14. public worship carried out according to certain prescribed forms

    divine service

15. the prescribed form according to which a specific kind of religious ceremony is to be carried out

    the burial service

16. 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
17. sport
    1. the act, manner, or right of serving a ball
    2. the game in which a particular player serves Often shortened toserve

       he has lost his service

18. (in feudal law) the duty owed by a tenant to his lord
19. the serving of a writ, summons, etc, upon a person
20. nautical a length of tarred marline or small stuff used in serving
21. (of male animals) the act of mating
22. modifier of, relating to, or for the use of servants or employees
23. modifier serving the public rather than producing goods

verb

1. to provide service or services
2. to make fit for use
3. to supply with assistance
4. to overhaul (a car, machine, etc)
5. (of a male animal) to mate with (a female)
6. to meet interest and capital payments on (debt)

service

²

/ ˈsɜːvɪs /

noun

1. See service tree

Service

³

/ 'sɜːvɪs /

noun

1. ServiceRobert18741958MCanadianWRITING: poetWRITING: writer 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)

Other Words From

• un·serviced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of service¹

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

Origin of service²

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 sorb ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of service¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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.

2. be of service, to be helpful or useful:

   If we can be of service, do not hesitate to call.

More idioms and phrases containing service

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

Example Sentences

The work stoppage, which affects service and patient care workers at all UC campuses and medical facilities, will continue until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times

The Federal Trade Commission released a report Thursday slamming social media platforms including Facebook’s parent company, Meta, as well as TikTok, Google-owned YouTube, Snap and other online services over privacy and youth safety concerns.

From Los Angeles Times

The review examined "exception" appointments, whereby the normal civil service recruitment rules are bypassed.

From BBC

Although some fans and locals quietly lined the street during the service, One Direction’s legion of fans did not converge on the small town.

From Los Angeles Times

For service members, the proposal ensures the military housing allowance no longer counts against eligibility, while former foster youth would see restrictions eased to combat college hunger.

From Salon

Related Words

• account
• assistance
• benefit
• business
• duty
• employment
• maintenance
• office
• supply
• use
• utility
• work