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

Today, to serve applications that range from low-power mobile chips to high-clock-rate server CPUs, foundries offer versions of the same transistor that differ only in how much voltage is needed to turn them on or off. — IEEE Spectrum, 25 June 2026

The bill would also eliminate lower wages for restaurant servers and other workers who rely on tips. — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Lenovo has upped its PC and server pricing, and Dell and HP have also raised their laptop prices. — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026

During his investigation, Heath had learned about Hunt’s computer servers in Costa Rica, and wondered how many more Tim Pughsleys were out there. — Keith O’Brien, New Yorker, 25 June 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