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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

   • 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.

3. 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.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishSERVE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   SERVE definition: 1. to give someone food or drink, especially guests or customers in a restaurant or bar: 2. to…. Learn more.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Definition of serve verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › serve

   • Cached

   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.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   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. [VERB noun] ...improvements in the public water-supply system serving the Nairobi area.

8. www.oed.com › dictionary › serve_v1serve, v.¹ meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English...

   www.oed.com › dictionary › serve_v1

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   What does the verb serve mean? There are 122 meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb serve, 31 of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. serve has developed meanings and uses in subjects including.

9. 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.

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

    www.thefreedictionary.com › serve

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    1. To work for (someone) as a servant: The steward serves the king. 2. a. To prepare and offer (food, for example): serve tea. b. To place food before (someone); wait on: served the guests a wonderful dinner. 3. a. To provide goods and services for (customers): a hotel that has served tourists at the same location for 30 years. b.

11. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › serveserve | meaning of serve in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary...

    www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › serve

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    serve meaning, definition, what is serve: to give someone food or drink, especiall...: Learn more.