serve

¹serve

verb \ˈsərv\

servedserv·ing

Definition of SERVE

intransitive verb

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 : to hold an office : discharge a duty or function <serve on a jury>

4

: to prove adequate or satisfactory : suffice <it will serve for this task>

5

: to help persons to food: as

a : to wait at table

b : to set out portions of food or drink

6

: to wait on customers

7

: to put the ball or shuttlecock in play in various games (as tennis, volleyball, or badminton)

transitive verb

1

a : to be a servant to : attend

b : to give the service and respect due to (a superior)

c : to comply with the commands or demands of : gratify

d : to give military or naval service to

e : to perform the duties of (an office or post)

2

: to act as server at (mass)

3

archaic : to pay a lover's or suitor's court to (a lady) <that gentle lady, whom I love and serve — Edmund Spenser>

4

a : to work through (a term of service)

b : to put in (a term of imprisonment)

5

a : to wait on at table

b : to bring (food) to a diner

c : present, provide —usually used with up <the novel served up many laughs>

6

a : to furnish or supply with something needed or desired

b : to wait on (a customer) in a store

c : to furnish professional service to

7

a : to answer the needs of

b : to be enough for : suffice

c : to contribute or conduce to : promote

8

: to treat or act toward in a specified way <he served me ill>

9

a : to bring to notice, deliver, or execute as required by law

b : to make legal service upon (a person named in a process)

10

of a male animal : to copulate with

11

: to wind yarn or wire tightly around (a rope or stay) for protection

12

: to provide services that benefit or help

13

: to put (the ball or shuttlecock) in play (as in tennis or badminton)

— serve one right

: to be deserved

Examples of SERVE

1. Soup was served as the first course.
2. The waiter served our meals quickly.
3. The restaurant serves excellent Italian food.
4. The waiter who served us was very nice.
5. Feel free to serve yourself at the salad bar.
6. You carve the turkey, and I'll serve.
7. The roast should serve six.
8. I'm afraid all of our salespeople are serving other customers right now.
9. What can we do to serve our customers better?

Origin of SERVE

Middle English, from Anglo-French servir, from Latin servire to be a slave, serve, from servus slave, servant

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to SERVE

Synonyms

slave (for), work (for), dance attendance (upon), wait on (also wait upon)

Related Words

attend, minister (to), tend (to)

Near Antonyms

hinder, impede; damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure; afflict, distress, upset

Rhymes with SERVE

curve, MIRV, nerve, slurve, swerve, verve

²serve

noun

Definition of SERVE

: the act or action of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play in various games (as volleyball, badminton, or tennis); also : a turn to serve <it's your serve>

Examples of SERVE

1. She started the game with a powerful serve.

First Known Use of SERVE

1688