serve Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play
    service.
    • his powerful serves won the game
  2. verb serve a purpose, role, or function
    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
  3. verb 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
  4. verb contribute or conduce to
    • The scandal served to increase his popularity
  5. verb be used by; as of a utility
    service.
    • The sewage plant served the neighboring communities
    • The garage served to shelter his horses
  6. verb help to some food; help with food or drink
    help.
    • I served him three times, and after that he helped himself
  7. verb provide (usually but not necessarily food)
    dish; dish out; serve up; dish up.
    • We serve meals for the homeless
    • She dished out the soup at 8 P.M.
    • The entertainers served up a lively show
  8. 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
  9. verb promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to
    serve well.
    • Art serves commerce
    • Their interests are served
    • The lake serves recreation
    • The President's wisdom has served the country well
  10. verb spend time in prison or in a labor camp
    do.
    • He did six years for embezzlement
  11. verb work for or be a servant to
    attend; assist; attend to; wait on.
    • 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
  12. verb deliver a warrant or summons to someone
    process; swear out.
    • He was processed by the sheriff
  13. verb be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity
    answer; do; suffice.
    • A few words would answer
    • This car suits my purpose well
    • Will $100 do?
    • A 'B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school
    • Nothing else will serve
  14. verb do military service
    • She served in Vietnam
    • My sons never served, because they are short-sighted
  15. verb mate with
    service.
    • male animals serve the females for breeding purposes
  16. verb put the ball into play
    • It was Agassi's turn to serve

WordNet

Serve transitive verb
Etymology
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.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Served ; present participle & verbal noun Serving
Definitions
  1. 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. Rom. i. 9.
    Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. Gen. xxix. 18.
    No man can serve two masters. Matt. vi. 24.
    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. Shak.
  2. 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. Milton.
  3. To be suitor to; to profess love to. Obs.
    To serve a lady in his beste wise. Chaucer.
  4. 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. Dryden.
  5. 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. Shak.
    Some part he roasts, then serves it up so dressed. Dryde.
  6. 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.
  7. 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. Jer. Taylor.
  8. To answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a sofa serves one for a seat and a couch.
  9. To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill.
  10. To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns.
  11. (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 subp&oe;na.
  12. To pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as, to serve a term in prison.
  13. To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; -- said of the male.
  14. (Tennis) To lead off in delivering (the ball).
  15. (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. Syn. -- To obey; minister to; subserve; promote; aid; help; assist; benefit; succor.
Serve intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. 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.
    The Lord shall give thee rest . . . from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve. Isa. xiv. 3.
  2. To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with household affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc.
    But Martha . . . said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Luke x. 40.
  3. To be in service; to do duty; to discharge the requirements of an office or employment. Specifically, to act in the public service, as a soldier, seaman. etc.
    Many . . . who had before been great commanders, but now served as private gentlemen without pay. Knolles.
  4. To be of use; to answer a purpose; to suffice; to suit; to be convenient or favorable.
    This little brand will serve to light your fire. Dryden.
    As occasion serves, this noble queen And prince shall follow with a fresh supply. Shak.
  5. (Tennis) To lead off in delivering the ball.

Webster 1913