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

Their idea—to leverage sensitive personal and business information contained in the servers for an enormous ransom—is both ridiculous and ingenious. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

The agreements make customers pay for graphics processing units (GPUs), server time and other inputs regardless of whether customers ever actually use them. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026

For example, an attacker might compromise an employee workstation before moving to file servers and databases. — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026

Birdbuddy gives you some control over how many visits reach you and performs server-side curation to highlight the best visits. — Jim Fisher, PC Magazine, 27 Sep. 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