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

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › serve

   Definitions of serve. verb. devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas. “She served the art of music”. “He served the church”. “ serve the country”. synonyms: assist, attend, attend to, wait on. work for or be a servant to.

3. 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.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   5 days ago · verb. 1. to be in the service of (a person) 2. to render or be of service to (a person, cause, etc); help. 3. (in a shop) to give ( customers) information about articles for sale and to hand over articles purchased. 4. (transitive) to provide ( guests, customers, etc) with food, drink, etc.

5. www.oed.com › dictionary › serve_v1serve, v.¹ meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English ...

   www.oed.com › dictionary › serve_v1

   • Cached

   What does the verb serve mean? There are 122 meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb serve, 31 of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. serve has developed meanings and uses in subjects including.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   Definition of serve verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

7. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishSERVE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   verb. uk / sɜːv / us. serve verb (FOOD/DRINK) Add to word list. A2. to give someone food or drink, especially guests or customers in a restaurant or bar: We're not allowed to serve alcohol to anyone under 18. Fewer examples. The restaurant serves good, though extremely expensive, food.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   noun. /sɜːv/ /sɜːrv/ (in tennis, etc.) the action of serving the ball to your opponent. He has not lost his serve (= lost a game in which it was his turn to serve) in three matches. Topics Sports: ball and racket sports c2. Word Origin. Definitions on the go.