server

noun

serv·​er ˈsər-vər 

1

: one that serves food or drink

2

: the player who serves (as in tennis)

3

: something used in serving food or drink

4

: one that serves legal processes upon another

5

: the celebrant's assistant at mass

6

: a computer in a network that is used to provide services (such as access to files or shared peripherals or the routing of email) to other computers in the network

Synonyms of server

• waiter
• waitress

Examples of server in a Sentence

She asked our server for another glass of wine.

we had barely finished ordering when the server brought our salads

Recent Examples on the Web

Kyung-Shick Choi, the director of cybercrime and cybersecurity at Boston University's Metropolitan College, said such residual data can still remain in the server systems that store, process or temporarily cache video files and metadata. —Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026

The footage and its underlying data could go through hundreds of thousands of servers and systems all over the world — increasing the chance of residual data being left behind. —Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026

And don’t hesitate to ask your server or sushi chef for recommendations; that’s the best way to discover the highest‑quality fish available that day. —Shindy Chen february 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2026

In context, containerizing data centers means placing servers and computing equipment in standard shipping containers. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English server, servere, from serven "to serve entry 1" + -er, -ere -er entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing server

• ad server
• altar server
• blade server

Rhymes for server

• fervor
• fervour
• observer
• preserver

Kids Definition

server

noun

serv·​er ˈsər-vər 

1

: a person who serves food or drink

2

: the player who puts a ball in play

3

: something (as a tray) used in serving food or drink

4

: a computer in a network that is used to provide services (as access to files or the delivery of email) to other computers