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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.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › serveServe Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › serve

   • Cached

   Learn the various meanings and uses of the verb and noun serve, from serving food or drinks to serving legal papers. See synonyms, examples, etymology, and related phrases of serve.

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › serve

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning and usage of the verb serve, which can mean to act as a servant, to offer food or drink, to help, to answer a purpose, or to play a ball in sports. Find synonyms, related words, and example sentences for serve.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSERVE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning of serve as a verb and a noun in English, with different senses and usage. Find out how to use serve in phrases, idioms, and sports contexts.

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

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › serve

   To serve is to perform a role or function. While your co-worker is out sick, you gladly serve as his replacement until he gets better. Serve comes from the Latin word for servant or slave, but you can serve people without being subordinate to them.

6. www.thefreedictionary.com › serveServe - definition of serve by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › serve

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning and usage of the verb serve in different contexts, such as serving food, serving time, serving God, and serving in sports. Find synonyms, idioms, and examples of serve in various dictionaries and sources.

   1.	Serve - (sports) A Stroke That Puts The ...
   1.	serve - serve a purpose, role, or ...
   2.	serve - do duty or hold offices; serve in ...
   3.	serve - contribute or conduce to; "The ...
   4.	serve - be used by; as of a utility; "The ...

   See full list on thefreedictionary.com

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › serve

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning of serve as a verb and a noun in different contexts, such as food, shop, work, prison and sport. See how to use serve in sentences and translations in various languages.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   2 days ago · Learn the various meanings and uses of the verb serve in English, with examples, synonyms, and pronunciation. Find out how to serve food, drink, legal orders, or tennis balls, and how to serve your country, organization, or person.