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1. Dictionary

   serve

   /sərv/

   verb

   • 1. perform duties or services for (another person or an organization): "Malcolm has served the church very faithfully" Similar work forbe in the service ofperform duties forbe employed byhave a job withobeybe obedient tocarry out the wishes ofbe of service tobe of use tohelpgive help toassistgive assistance toaidlend a hand togive a helping hand todo a good turn tomake a contribution todo one's bit fordo something forbenefitminister tosuccorbe a member ofwork onbe onsit onhave/hold a place onperform duties oncarry out duties on
   • ▪ provide (an area or group of people) with a product or service: "a telecommunications company that serves southern New England"
   • ▪ be employed as a member of the armed forces: "a military engineer who served with the army"
   • ▪ spend (a period) in office, in an apprenticeship, or in prison: "he is serving a ten-year jail sentence" Similar carry outperformdofulfillcompletedischargespendgo through
   • 2. present (food or drink) to someone: "they serve wine instead of beer" Similar dish up/outgive outdistributeset outplate upspoon outladle outpresentprovidesupplymake available
   • ▪ present (someone) with food or drink: "Peter served them generous portions of soup" Similar act as waiter/waitresswaitdistribute food/refreshmentsinformal:sling hashsling plates
   • ▪ (of food or drink) be enough for: "the recipe serves four people"
   • ▪ attend to (a customer in a store): British "she turned to serve the impatient customer" Similar attend togive one's attention toattend to the requirements ofdeal withsee toassisthelplook aftertake care of
   • ▪ supply (goods) to a customer.
   • ▪ act as a server at the celebration of the Eucharist.
   • ▪ play (a trick) on (someone): archaic "I remember the trick you served me"
   • 3. deliver (a document such as a summons or writ) in a formal manner to the person to whom it is addressed: "he said his lawyer would serve a writ to the multinational corporation within a week"
   • ▪ deliver a document to (someone) in a formal manner: "they were just about to serve him with a writ" Similar deliver topresent withgive tohand over tocause to accept
   • 4. be of use in achieving or satisfying: "this book will serve a useful purpose" Similar sufficebe adequatebe good enoughbe all rightfit/fill the billdoanswerbe usefulserve a purposemeet requirementssuit
   • ▪ be of some specified use: "sweat serves to cool down the body" Similar act asfunction asfulfill the function ofdo duty asdo the work ofact as a substitute for
   • ▪ function for or treat (someone) in a specified way: "the strategy served him well" Similar treatdeal withact towardbehave towardconduct oneself towardhandle
   • ▪ (of a male breeding-animal) copulate with (a female).
   • 5. (in tennis and other racket sports) hit the ball or shuttlecock to begin play: "he tossed the ball up to serve"
   • 6. bind (a rope) with thin cord to protect or strengthen it.
   • 7. operate (a gun): "before long Lodge was the only man in his section able to serve the guns"

   noun

   • 1. (in tennis and other racket sports) an act of hitting the ball or shuttlecock to start play: "he was let down by an erratic serve"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French servir, from Latin servire, from servus ‘slave’.

   Scrabble Points: 8

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › serveServe Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › serve

   • Cached

   1. a. : to be a servant. b. : to do military or naval service. 2. : to assist a celebrant as server at mass. 3. a. : to be of use. in a day when few people could write, seals served as signatures Elizabeth W. King. b. : to be favorable, opportune, or convenient. c. : to be worthy of reliance or trust. if memory serves. d.

3. www.dictionary.com › browse › serveSERVE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › serve

   • Cached

   to render assistance; be of use; help. Synonyms: succor, aid. 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.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSERVE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   SERVE definition: 1. to provide food or drinks: 2. to work for; to do your duty to: 3. to help achieve something or…. Learn more.

5. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › serveServe - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › serve

   Serve comes from the Latin word for servant or slave, but you can serve people without being subordinate to them. You might serve your family hamburgers for dinner, or serve the tennis ball. If you serve a cause, you devote yourself to it. Bug repellant will serve you well on a summer fishing trip. In prison you serve time.

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionarySERVE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   SERVE meaning: 1. to provide food or drinks: 2. to work for; to do your duty to: 3. to help achieve something or…. Learn more.

7. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishSERVE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   If something serves as a particular thing or serves a particular purpose, it performs a particular function, which is often not its intended function. She ushered me into the front room, which served as her office.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishserve verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   [transitive, intransitive] to give somebody food or drink, for example at a restaurant or during a meal. serve (something) Breakfast is served between 7 and 10 a.m. When do you stop serving hot food? Pour the sauce over the pasta and serve immediately. Shall I serve? serve something with something Serve the lamb with new potatoes and green beans.

9. www.thefreedictionary.com › serveServe - definition of serve by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › serve

   • Cached

   1. To work for (someone) as a servant: The steward serves the king. 2. a. To prepare and offer (food, for example): serve tea. b. To place food before (someone); wait on: served the guests a wonderful dinner. 3. a. To provide goods and services for (customers): a hotel that has served tourists at the same location for 30 years. b.

10. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › serveserve | meaning of serve in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary...

    www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › serve

    • Cached

    serve meaning, definition, what is serve: to give someone food or drink, especiall...: Learn more.

11. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishMeaning of serve – Learner’s Dictionary - Cambridge Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

    • Cached

    SERVE definition: 1. to give someone food or drink, especially guests or customers in a restaurant or bar: 2. to…. Learn more.