serve

verb

\ ˈsərv

served; serving

Definition of serve

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : to be a servant

b : to do military or naval service

2 : to assist a celebrant as server at mass

3a : 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 : to hold an office : discharge a duty or function serve on a jury

4 : to prove adequate or satisfactory : suffice it will serve for this task

5 : to help persons to food: such as

a : to wait at table

b : to set out portions of food or drink

6 : to wait on customers

7 : to put the ball or shuttlecock in play in various games (such as tennis, volleyball, or badminton)

transitive verb

1a : to be a servant to : attend

b : to give the service and respect due to (a superior)

c : to comply with the commands or demands of : gratify

d : to give military or naval service to

e : to perform the duties of (an office or post)

2 : to act as server at (mass)

3 archaic : to pay a lover's or suitor's court to (a lady) that gentle lady, whom I love and serve— Edmund Spenser

4a : to work through (a term of service)

b : to put in (a term of imprisonment)

5a : to wait on at table

b : to bring (food) to a diner

c : present, provide —usually used with up the novel served up many laughs

6a : to furnish or supply with something needed or desired

b : to wait on (a customer) in a store

c : to furnish professional service to

7a : to answer the needs of

b : to be enough for : suffice

c : to contribute or conduce to : promote

8 : to treat or act toward in a specified way he served me ill

9a : to bring to notice, deliver, or execute as required by law

b : to make legal service upon (a person named in a process)

10 of a male animal : to copulate with

11 : to wind yarn or wire tightly around (a rope or stay) for protection

12 : to provide services that benefit or help

13 : to put (the ball or shuttlecock) in play (as in tennis, volleyball, or badminton)

serve one right

: to be deserved

serve

noun

Definition of serve (Entry 2 of 2)

: the act or action of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play in various games (such as volleyball, badminton, or tennis) also : a turn to serve it's your serve

serve

Definition of serve

WORD OF THE DAY