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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.oed.com › dictionary › serve_v1serve, v.¹ meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English ...

   www.oed.com › dictionary › serve_v1

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   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.

3. www.britannica.com › dictionary › serveServe Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

   www.britannica.com › dictionary › serve

   • Cached

   Britannica Dictionary definition of SERVE. 1. a [+ object] : to give (food or drink) to someone at a meal, in a restaurant, etc. Soup was served as the first course. The waiter served our meals quickly. The restaurant serves excellent Italian food. Dinner is served. [=dinner is on the table and ready to be eaten]

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › serve&

   • Cached

   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. 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.

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

   www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › serve

   • Cached

   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.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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

7. www.wordsmyth.netserve | Dictionaries and vocabulary tools for English ...

   www.wordsmyth.net

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   features: Word Combinations ( verb, noun ), Word Builder, Word Explorer. Word Builder: serve +. server 1: a person whose job is to serve customers at a restaurant. server 2: a computer that serves files to other computers. Word Explorer. See. drink, food, sport. The meaning of serve. Definition of serve.

8. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › servedServed Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › served

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   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.