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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. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishSERVE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   Learn the meaning of serve as a verb and a noun in English, with different senses and usage. Find out how to use serve in phrases, idioms, and sports contexts.

   • English (US)

     SERVE meaning: 1. to provide food or drinks: 2. to work for;...

   • Znaczenie Serve, Definicja W Cambridge English Dictionary

     serve definicja: 1. to provide food or drinks: 2. to work...

   • Serve: Thai Translation

     SERVE translate: รับใช้, บริการอาหาร, เหมาะสมกับจุดประสงค์,...

   • Serve: Italian Translation

     serve translate: servire, servire, servire, scontare...

   • Serve Spanish Translation

     SERVE translate: servir, servir, atender, cumplir (una...

   • Serve: Arabic Translation

     SERVE translate: يَخْدِم, يَخْدِم, يَخْدِم (المُجْتَمَع),...

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › serveServe Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › serve

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   Learn the various meanings and uses of the verb and noun serve, from serving food or drinks to serving legal papers. See synonyms, examples, etymology, and related phrases of serve.

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › serve

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   to offer or have a meal or refreshments available, as for patrons or guests: Come early, we're serving at six. to offer or distribute a portion or portions of food or a beverage, as a host or hostess: It was her turn to serve at the faculty tea. to render assistance; be of use; help. Synonyms: succor, aid.

5. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › serveServe - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › serve

   Serve comes from the Latin word for servant or slave, but you can serve people without being subordinate to them. You might serve your family hamburgers for dinner, or serve the tennis ball. If you serve a cause, you devote yourself to it. Bug repellant will serve you well on a summer fishing trip. In prison you serve time.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   Learn the various meanings and uses of the verb serve in English, with examples, synonyms, and pronunciation. Find out how to serve food, drink, legal orders, or tennis balls, and how to serve your country, organization, or person.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   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.

8. www.thefreedictionary.com › serveServe - definition of serve by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › serve

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   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.