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1. Dictionary

   serve

   /səːv/

   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 tosuccourbe 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 hospital which serves a large area of Wales"
   • ▪ be employed as a member of the armed forces: "he had hoped to serve with the Medical Corps"
   • ▪ spend (a period) in office, in an apprenticeship, or in prison: "he is serving a ten-year jail sentence" Similar carry outperformdofulfilcompletedischargespendgo 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: "the cafe refused to serve him with the tea" 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 shop): 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 (the addressee) 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: "the square now serves as the town's chief car park" Similar act asfunction asfulfil the function ofdo duty asdo the work ofact as a substitute for
   • ▪ treat (someone) in a specified way: "Cornish homeowners wonder if they are being fairly served" Similar treatdeal withact towardsbehave towardsconduct oneself towardshandle
   • ▪ (of a male breeding animal) copulate with (a female).
   • 5. (in tennis and other racket sports) hit the ball or shuttlecock to begin play for each point of a game: "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"
   • 2. a reprimand: informal Australian "he would be willing to give the country a serve in an English newspaper"

   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

   1. a. : to be a servant. b. : to do military or naval service. 2. : to assist a celebrant as server at mass. 3. a. : 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.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishMeaning of serve in English - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   SERVE definition: 1. to provide food or drinks: 2. to work for; to do your duty to: 3. to help achieve something or…. Learn more.

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › serve

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning and usage of the verb serve and its related words, such as service, server, and serve one right. Find out how to serve food, drink, or a cause, and how to serve in different contexts and sports.

5. 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.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning, pronunciation and usage of the verb serve in different contexts, such as food, work, law, sports and idioms. Find out how to use serve with different objects, adjectives, prepositions and phrasal verbs.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   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. she served her guests with cocktails.

8. 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.