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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.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionarySERVE definition in American English - Collins Online Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary

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   6 days ago · 1. transitive verb. If you serve your country, an organization, or a person, you do useful work for them. It is unfair to soldiers who have served their country well for many years. Synonyms: work for, help, aid, assist More Synonyms of serve. 2. intransitive verb.

3. www.dictionary.com › browse › serves&Serve Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › serves&

   • Cached

   to offer or distribute a portion or portions of food or a beverage, as a host or hostess: It was her turn to serve at the faculty tea.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionarySERVE | definition in the Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • Cached

   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. For those with a less sophisticated palate, the restaurant also serves burgers and fries.

5. en.m.wiktionary.org › wiki › serveserve - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

   en.m.wiktionary.org › wiki › serve

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   Apr 13, 2024 · serve (third-person singular simple present serves, present participle serving, simple past and past participle served) (personal) To provide a service (or, by extension, a product, especially food or drink). ( transitive) To be a formal servant for (a god or deity); to worship in an official capacity. [from 12thc.]

6. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › serveserve | meaning of serve in Longman Dictionary of ...

   www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › serve

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   From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Related topics: Trade, Jail & punishment, Sport serve1 /sɜːv $ sɜːrv/ S1 W1 verb 1 food/drink [ intransitive, transitive] to give someone food or drink, especially as part of a meal or in a restaurant, bar etc The waiter was serving another table.

7. www.dictionary.com › browse › serve&SERVE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › serve&

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   serve. [ surv ] show ipa. See synonyms for serve on Thesaurus.com. verb (used without object), served, serv·ing. to act as a servant. to wait on table, as a waiter. to offer or have a meal or refreshments available, as for patrons or guests: Come early, we're serving at six.

8. www.wordreference.com › definition › serveserve - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

   www.wordreference.com › definition › serve

   • Cached

   to act as a servant to (another); work for: [ no object] The maid served in the kitchen. [ ~ + object] served his young master well.