serve

[ surv ]

verb (used without object)

, served, serv·ing.

1. to act as a servant.

   Synonyms: attend

2. to wait on table, as a waiter.

   Synonyms: attend

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.

   Synonyms: succor, aid

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.

verb (used with object)

, served, serv·ing.

1. to be in the service of; work for.
2. to be useful or of service to; help.
3. to go through (a term of service, imprisonment, etc.).
4. to render active service to (a sovereign, commander, etc.).
5. to render obedience or homage to (God, a sovereign, etc.).
6. to perform the duties of (a position, an office, etc.):

   to serve his mayoralty.

7. to answer the requirements of; suffice:

   This will serve our needs for the moment.

8. to contribute to; promote:

   to serve a cause.

9. to wait upon at table; act as a waiter or waitress to.
10. to carry and distribute (portions of food or drink) to a patron or a specific table, as a waiter or waitress.
11. 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?

12. 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.

13. to provide with a regular or continuous supply of something.
14. (in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put (the ball or shuttlecock) in play.
15. to treat in a specified manner:

    That served him ill.

16. Law.
    1. to make legal delivery of (a process or writ).
    2. to present (a person) with a writ.
17. to gratify (desire, wants, needs, etc.).
18. (of a male animal) to mate with; service.
19. to operate or keep in action (a gun, artillery, etc.).
20. Nautical. to wrap (a rope) tightly with small stuff, keeping the turns as close together as possible.

noun

1. the act, manner, or right of serving, as in tennis.

serve

/ sɜːv /

verb

1. to be in the service of (a person)
2. to render or be of service to (a person, cause, etc); help
3. (in a shop) to give (customers) information about articles for sale and to hand over articles purchased
4. tr to provide (guests, customers, etc) with food, drink, etc

   she served her guests with cocktails

5. to distribute or provide (food, drink, etc) for guests, customers, etc

   do you serve coffee?

6. trsometimes foll byup to present (food, drink, etc) in a specified manner

   cauliflower served with cheese sauce

7. tr to provide with a regular supply of
8. tr to work actively for

   to serve the government

9. tr to pay homage to

   to serve God

10. to answer the requirements of; suit

    this will serve my purpose

11. intr; may take an infinitive to have a use; function

    this wood will serve to build a fire

12. to go through (a period of service, enlistment, imprisonment, etc)
13. intr (of weather, conditions, etc) to be favourable or suitable
14. Alsoservice tr (of a male animal) to copulate with (a female animal)
15. sport to put (the ball) into play
16. intr RC Church to act as server at Mass or other services
17. tr to deliver (a legal document, esp a writ or summons) to (a person)
18. to provide (a machine, etc) with an impulse or signal for control purposes or with a continuous supply of fuel, working material, etc
19. tr nautical to bind (a rope, spar, etc) with wire or fine cord to protect it from chafing, etc See also seize
20. serve a person right informal.
    to pay a person back, esp for wrongful or foolish treatment or behaviour

noun

1. sport short for service 1
2. a portion or helping of food or drink

Derived Forms

• ˈservable, adjective

Other Words From

• 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 History and Origins

Origin of serve¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English serven, from Old French servir, from Latin servīre, equivalent to serv(us) “enslaved person” ( serf ) + -īre, infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of serve¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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

Hegseth is leaving his co-host role on the weekend edition of ‘Fox & Friends’ to serve the Trump administration, ramping up the White House-cable news nexus.

From Los Angeles Times

Shariyf said hopefully this state will serve as “an essential resource” in the Southwest, including Texas.

From Salon

“How can anyone pretend that this collection can serve as a reference for anyone?” the collective asks, noting that online dictionaries are both bigger and faster-moving.

From BBC

Gabbard went on to represent Hawaii in Congress from 2013 until 2021 - becoming the first Hindu to serve in the House.

From BBC

"This decision ignores the market realities, and will only serve to protect incumbent marketplaces from competition."

From BBC

Related Words

• accept
• attend
• complete
• follow
• pass
• perform
• work