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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

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   SERVE definition: 1. to give someone food or drink, especially guests or customers in a restaurant or bar: 2. to…. Learn more.

6. 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.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   Definition of serve verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. serve. verb. /sɜːv/ /sɜːrv/ Verb Forms. Idioms Phrasal Verbs. food/drink. [transitive, intransitive] to give somebody food or drink, for example at a restaurant or during a meal. serve (something) Breakfast is served between 7 and 10 a.m. When do you stop serving hot food?

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitionserve noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

   • Cached

   Questions about grammar and vocabulary? Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English. See serve in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Check pronunciation: serve. Definition of serve noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary.