Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French servir, from Old French, from Latin servire to be a slave, serve, from servus slave, servant
Pronunciation : s&rv
Function : verb
Date : 13th century
1. opening stroke or hit of the ball (Sports). tend to, attend; work, perform a duty or task; worship; function as; offer, present; fulfill a term (of punishment, military service, etc.); deliver, provide; mate with, service (animals); make the opening hit, put the ball into play (Sports).
2. to defeat an opponent with skill.
3. to deliver a subpoena. serve\serve\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. served ; p. pr. & vb. n. serving.] [oe. serven, servien, of. & f. servir, fr. l. servire; akin to servus a servant or slave, servare to protect, preserve, observe; cf. zend har to protect, haurva protecting. cf. conserve, desert merit, dessert, observe, serf, sergeant.].
4. to work for; to labor in behalf of; to exert one's self continuously or statedly for the benefit of; to do service for; to be in the employment of, as an inferior, domestic, serf, slave, hired assistant, official helper, etc.; specifically, in a religious sense, to obey and worship. god is my witness, whom i serve with my spirit. i.
5. jacob loved rachel; and said, i will serve thee seven years for rachel thy younger daughter. xxix.
6. no man can serve two masters. vi.
7. had i but served my god with half the zeal i served my king, he would not in mine age have left me naked to mine enemies.
8. to be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to. bodies bright and greater should not serve the less not bright.
9. to be suitor to; to profess love to. [obs.] to serve a lady in his beste wise.
10. to wait upon; to supply the wants of; to attend; specifically, to wait upon at table; to attend at meals; to supply with food; as, to serve customers in a shop. others, pampered in their shameless pride, are served in plate and in their chariots ride.
11. hence, to bring forward, arrange, deal, or distribute, as a portion of anything, especially of food prepared for eating; -- often with up; formerly with in. bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner. some part he roasts, then serves it up so dressed. --dryde.
12. to perform the duties belonging to, or required in or for; hence, to be of use to; as, a curate may serve two churches; to serve one's country.
13. to contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn. turn it into some advantage, by observing where it can serve another end. taylor.
14. to answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a sofa serves one for a seat and a couch.
15. to treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill.
16. to work; to operate; as, to serve the guns.
17. (law) (a) to bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually or constructively, in such manner as the law requires; as, to serve a summons. (b) to make legal service opon (a person named in a writ, summons, etc.); as, to serve a witness with a subpÂœna.
18. to pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as, to serve a term in prison.
19. to copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; -- said of the male.
20. (tennis) to lead off in delivering (the ball).
21. (naut.) to wind spun yarn, or the like, tightly around (a rope or cable, etc.) so as to protect it from chafing or from the weather. see:
under serving.
22. To work for; to labor in behalf of; to exert one's self continuously or statedly for the benefit of; to do service for; to be in the employment of, as an inferior, domestic, serf, slave, hired assistant, official helper, etc.; specifically, in a religious sense, to obey and worship.
23. To be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to.
24. To be suitor to; to profess love to.
25. To wait upon; to supply the wants of; to attend; specifically, to wait upon at table; to attend at meals; to supply with food; as, to serve customers in a shop.
26. Hence, to bring forward, arrange, deal, or distribute, as a portion of anything, especially of food prepared for eating; often with up; formerly with in.
27. To perform the duties belonging to, or required in or for; hence, to be of use to; as, a curate may serve two churches; to serve one's country.
28. To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn.
29. To answer or be to; as, a sofa serves one for a seat and a couch.
30. To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill.
31. To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns.
32. To bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually or constructively, in such manner as the law requires; as, to serve a summons.
33. To make legal service opon ; as, to serve a witness with a subpœna.
34. To pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as, to serve a term in prison.
35. To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; said of the male.
36. To be a servant or a slave; to be employed in labor or other business for another; to be in subjection or bondage; to render menial service.
37. To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with household affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc.
38. To be in service; to do duty; to discharge the requirements of an office or employment.
39. Specifically, to act in the public service, as a soldier, seaman. etc.
40. To be of use; to answer a purpose; to suffice; to suit; to be convenient or favorable.
41. To lead off in delivering the ball. a stroke that puts the ball in play; "his powerful serves won the game" put the ball into play; "It was Agassi's turn to serve" do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function; "He served as head of the department for three years"; "She served in Congress for two terms" provide ; "We serve meals for the homeless"; "She dished out the soup at 8 P.M."; "The entertainers served up a lively show" help to some food; help with food or drink; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself" mate with; "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes" deliver a warrant or summons to someone; "He was processed by the sheriff" do military service; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted" work for or be a servant to; "May I serve you?"; "She attends the old lady in the wheelchair"; "Can you wait on our table, please?"; "Is a salesperson assisting you?"; "The minister served the King for many years" devote 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" contribute or conduce to; "The scandal served to increase his popularity" promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to; "Art serves commerce"; "Their interests are served"; "The lake serves recreation"; "The President's wisdom has served the counrty well" serve a purpose, role, or function; "The tree stump serves as a table"; "The female students served as a control group"; "This table would serve very well"; "His freedom served him well"; "The table functions as a desk" spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years for embezzlement".
42. 1. 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 I have always said that I would serve the Party in any way it felt appropriate.
43. If you serve in a particular place or as a particular official, you perform official duties, especially in the armed forces, as a civil servant, or as a politician. During the second world war he served with RAF Coastal Command For seven years until 1991 he served as a district councillor in Solihull.
44. If something serves as a particular thing or serves a particular purpose, it performs a particular function, which is often not its intended function. She ushered me into the front room, which served as her office I really do not think that an inquiry would serve any useful purpose Their brief visit has served to underline the deep differences between the two countries The old drawing room serves her as both sitting room and study.
45. If something serves people or an area, it provides them with something that they need. This could mean the closure of thousands of small businesses which serve the community Cuba is well served by motorways.
46. Something that serves someone's interests benefits them. The economy should be organized to serve the interests of all the people.
47. When you serve food and drink, you give people food and drink. Serve it with French bread Serve the cakes warm Prepare the garnishes shortly before you are ready to serve the soup. the pleasure of having someone serve you champagne and caviar in bed They are expected to baby-sit, run errands, and help serve at cocktail parties. Serve up means the same as serve. After all, it is no use serving up TV dinners if the kids won't eat them He served it up on delicate white plates.
48. Serve is used to indicate how much food a recipe produces. For example, a recipe that serves six provides enough food for six people. Garnish with fresh herbs. Serves.
49. 8. Someone who serves customers in a shop or a bar helps them and provides them with what they want to buy. They wouldn't serve me in any pubs 'cos I looked too young Auntie and Uncle suggested she serve in the shop.
50. When the police or other officials serve someone with a legal order or serve an order on them, they give or send the legal order to them. Immigration officers tried to serve her with a deportation order Police said they had been unable to serve a summons on 25-year-old Lee Jones.
51. If you serve something such as a prison sentence or an apprenticeship, you spend a period of time doing it. Leo, who is currently serving a life sentence for murder.
52. When you serve in games such as tennis and badminton, you throw up the ball or shuttlecock and hit it to start play. He served 17 double faults If you serve like this nobody can beat you. Serve is also a noun. His second serve clipped the net.
53. When you describe someone's serve, you are indicating how well or how fast they serve a ball or shuttlecock. His powerful serve was too much for the defending champion. see also:
serving.
54. feelings If you say it serves someone right when something unpleasant happens to them, you mean that it is their own fault and you have no sympathy for them. Serves her right for being so stubborn. the action in a game such as tennis or volleyball when you throw the ball in the air and hit it over the net.
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