Adjacent Words

Serve definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SERVE, v.t. serv. [L. servio. This verb is supposed to be from the noun servus, a servant or slave, and this from servo, to keep.]
1. To work for; to bestow the labor of boky and mind in the employment of another.
Jacob loved Rachel and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy youngest daughters. Genesis 29.
No man can serve two masters. Matthew 6.
2. To act as the minister of; to perform official duties to; as, a minister serves his prince.
Had I served God as diligently as I have served the king, he would not have given me over in my gray hairs. Cardinal Woolsey.
3. To attend at command; to wait on.
A goddess among gods, ador'd and serv'd
By anbels numberless, thy daily train. Milton.
4. To obey servilely or meanly. be not to wealth a servant.
5. To supply with food; as, to be served in plate.
6. To be subservient or subordinate to.
Bodies bright and greater should not serve
The less not bright. Milton.
7. To perform the duties required in; as, the curate served two churches.
8. To obey; to perform duties in the employment of; as, to serve the king or the country in the army or navy.
9. To be sufficient, or to promote; as, to serve one's turn, end or purpose.
10. To help by good offices; as, to serve one's country.
11. To comply with; to submit to.
They think herein we serve the time, because thereby we either hold or seek preferment. Hooker.
12. To be sufficient for; to satisfy; to content.
One half pint bottle serves them both to dine,
And is at once their vinegar and wine. Pope.
13. To be in the place of any thing to one. A sofa serves the Turks for a seat and a couch.
14. To treat; to requite; as, he served me ungratefully; he served me very ill; We say also, he served me a trick, that is he deceived me, or practiced an artifice on me.
15. In Scripture and theology, to obey and worship; to act in conformity to the law of a superior, and treat him with due reverence.
Fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and truth. As for me and my house, we will serve the lord. Josh 24.
16. In a bad sense, to obey; to yeild compliance or act according to.
Serving divers lusts and treasures. Titus 3.
17. To worship; to render homage to; as, to serve idols or false gods.
18. To be a slave to; to be in bondage to.
19. To serve one's self of, to use; to make use of; a Gallicism, [se sevir de.]
I will serve myself of this concession. Chillingworh.
20. To use; to manage; to apply. The guns are well served.
21. In seamen's language, to wind something round a rope to prevent friction.
To serve up, to prepare and present in a dish; as, to serve up a sirloin of beef in plate; figuratively, to prepare.
To serve in, as used by Shakespeare, for to bring in, as meat by an attendant, I have never to be used in America.
To serve out, to distribute in portions; as, to serve out provisions to soldiers.
To serve a writ, to read it to the defendant; or to leave an attested copy at his usual place of abode.
To serve an attachment, or writ of attachment, to levy it on the or goods by seizure; or to seize.
To serve an execution, to levy it on lands, goods or person by seizure or taking possession.
To serve a warrant, to read it, and to seize the person against whom it is issued.
In general, to serve a process, is to read it so as to give due notice to the party concerned, or to leave an attested copy with him or his attorney, or at his usual place of abode.
To serve an office, to discharge a public duty. [This phrase, I believe, is not used in America. We say, a man serves in an office, that is, serves the public in an office.]
SERVE, v.i. serv.
1. To be a servant or slave.
The Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve. Isaiah 14.
2. To be employed in labor or or other business for another.
3. To be in subjection.
4. To wait; to attend; to perform domestic offices to another.
5. To perform duties, as in the army, navy or in any office. An officer serves five years in India, or under a particular commander. The late scretary of the colony, and afterwards state, of Connecticut, was annually appointed, and served in the office sixty years.
6. To answer; to accomplish the end.
She feared that all would not serve. Sidney.
7. To be sufficient for a purpose.
This little brand will serve to light your fire. Dryden.
8. To suit; to be convenient. Take this, and use it as occasion serves.
9. To conduce; to be of use.
Our victory only served to lead us on to other visionary prospects. Swift.
10. To officiate or minister; to do the honors of; as, to serve at a public dinner.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play; "his powerful serves won the game" [syn: serve, service] v
1: serve a purpose, role, or 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" [syn: serve, function]
2: 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"
3: contribute or conduce to; "The scandal served to increase his popularity"
4: be used by; as of a utility; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses" [syn: service, serve]
5: help to some food; help with food or drink; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself" [syn: serve, help]
6: provide (usually but not necessarily food); "We serve meals for the homeless"; "She dished out the soup at 8 P.M."; "The entertainers served up a lively show" [syn: serve, serve up, dish out, dish up, dish]
7: 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"
8: promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to; "Art serves commerce"; "Their interests are served"; "The lake serves recreation"; "The President's wisdom has served the country well" [syn: serve, serve well]
9: spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years for embezzlement" [syn: serve, do]
10: work for or be a servant to; "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" [syn: serve, attend to, wait on, attend, assist]
11: deliver a warrant or summons to someone; "He was processed by the sheriff" [syn: serve, process, swear out]
12: be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity; "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" [syn: suffice, do, answer, serve]
13: do military service; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted"
14: mate with; "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes" [syn: serve, service]
15: put the ball into play; "It was Agassi's turn to serve"

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (served; serving) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French servir, from Latin servire to be a slave, serve, from servus slave, servant Date: 13th century intransitive verb 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. 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: 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 (as tennis, volleyball, or badminton) transitive verb 1. a. 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> 4. a. to work through (a term of service) b. to put in (a term of imprisonment) 5. a. 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> 6. a. to furnish or supply with something needed or desired b. to wait on (a customer) in a store c. to furnish professional service to 7. a. 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> 9. a. 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 or badminton) II. noun Date: 1688 the act or action of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play in various games (as volleyball, badminton, or tennis); also a turn to serve <it's your serve>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. 1 tr. do a service for (a person, community, etc.). 2 tr. (also absol.) be a servant to. 3 intr. carry out duties (served on six committees). 4 intr. a (foll. by in) be employed in (an organization, esp. the armed forces, or a place, esp. a foreign country) (served in the air force). b be a member of the armed forces. 5 a tr. be useful to or serviceable for; meet the needs of; do what is required for (serve a purpose; one packet serves him for a week). b intr. meet requirements; perform a function (a sofa serving as a bed). c intr. (foll. by to + infin.) avail, suffice (his attempt served only to postpone the inevitable; it serves to show the folly of such action). 6 tr. go through a due period of (office, apprenticeship, a prison sentence, etc.). 7 tr. set out or present (food) for those about to eat it (asparagus served with butter; dinner was then served). 8 intr. (in full serve at table) act as a waiter. 9 tr. a attend to (a customer in a shop). b (foll. by with) supply with (goods) (was serving a customer with apples; served the town with gas). 10 tr. treat or act towards (a person) in a specified way (has served me shamefully; you may serve me as you will). 11 tr. a (often foll. by on) deliver (a writ etc.) to the person concerned in a legally formal manner (served a warrant on him). b (foll. by with) deliver a writ etc. to (a person) in this way (served her with a summons). 12 tr. Tennis etc. a (also absol.) deliver (a ball etc.) to begin or resume play. b produce (a fault etc.) by doing this. 13 tr. Mil. keep (a gun, battery, etc.) firing. 14 tr. (of an animal, esp. a stallion etc. hired for the purpose) copulate with (a female). 15 tr. distribute (served the ammunition out; served the rations round). 16 tr. render obedience to (a deity etc.). 17 Eccl. a intr. act as a server. b tr. act as a server at (a service). 18 intr. (of a tide) be suitable for a ship to leave harbour etc. 19 tr. Naut. bind (a rope etc.) with thin cord to strengthen it. 20 tr. play (a trick etc.) on. --n. 1 Tennis etc. a the act or an instance of serving. b a manner of serving. c a person's turn to serve. 2 Austral. sl. a reprimand. Phrases and idioms: it will serve it will be adequate. serve one's needs (or need) be adequate. serve out retaliate on. serve the purpose of take the place of, be used as. serve a person right be a person's deserved punishment or misfortune. serve one's time 1 hold office for the normal period. 2 (also serve time) undergo imprisonment, apprenticeship, etc. serve one's (or the) turn be adequate. serve up offer for acceptance. Etymology: ME f. OF servir f. L servire f. servus slave

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Serve Serve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Served; p. pr. & vb. n. Serving.] [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.] 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Serve Serve, v. i. 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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(serves, serving, served) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If you serve your country, an organization, or a person, you do useful work for them. It is unfair to soldiers who have served their country well for many years... I have always said that I would serve the Party in any way it felt appropriate. VERB: V n, V n 2. If you serve in a particular place or as a particular official, you perform official duties, especially in the armed forces, as a civil servant, or as a politician. During the second world war he served with RAF Coastal Command... For seven years until 1991 he served as a district councillor in Solihull. VERB: V prep/adv, V prep/adv 3. If something serves as a particular thing or serves a particular purpose, it performs a particular function, which is often not its intended function. She ushered me into the front room, which served as her office... I really do not think that an inquiry would serve any useful purpose... Their brief visit has served to underline the deep differences between the two countries... The old drawing room serves her as both sitting room and study. VERB: V as/for n, V n, V to-inf, V n as/for n 4. 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... Cuba is well served by motorways. VERB: V n, V n 5. Something that serves someone's interests benefits them. The economy should be organized to serve the interests of all the people... VERB: V n 6. When you serve food and drink, you give people food and drink. Serve it with French bread... Serve the cakes warm... Prepare the garnishes shortly before you are ready to serve the soup. ...the pleasure of having someone serve you champagne and caviar in bed... They are expected to baby-sit, run errands, and help serve at cocktail parties. VERB: V n prep, V n adj, V n, V n n, V, also V n to n • Serve up means the same as serve. After all, it is no use serving up TV dinners if the kids won't eat them... He served it up on delicate white plates. PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V n P 7. Serve is used to indicate how much food a recipe produces. For example, a recipe that serves six provides enough food for six people. Garnish with fresh herbs. Serves 4. VERB: no cont, V n 8. Someone who serves customers in a shop or a bar helps them and provides them with what they want to buy. They wouldn't serve me in any pubs 'cos I looked too young... Auntie and Uncle suggested she serve in the shop. VERB: V n, V 9. When the police or other officials serve someone with a legal order or serve an order on them, they give or send the legal order to them. (LEGAL) Immigration officers tried to serve her with a deportation order... Police said they had been unable to serve a summons on 25-year-old Lee Jones. VERB: V n with n, V n on n 10. If you serve something such as a prison sentence or an apprenticeship, you spend a period of time doing it. ...Leo, who is currently serving a life sentence for murder... VERB: V n 11. When you serve in games such as tennis and badminton, you throw up the ball or shuttlecock and hit it to start play. He served 17 double faults... If you serve like this nobody can beat you. VERB: V n, V • Serve is also a noun. His second serve clipped the net. N-COUNT 12. When you describe someone's serve, you are indicating how well or how fast they serve a ball or shuttlecock. His powerful serve was too much for the defending champion. N-COUNT 13. see also serving 14. If you say it serves someone right when something unpleasant happens to them, you mean that it is their own fault and you have no sympathy for them. Serves her right for being so stubborn. PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR for -ing [feelings]

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Work for, labor for, be under the orders of, be subservient to, obey, subserve. 2. Aid, assist, help, succor, attend, oblige, wait on, minister to. 3. Promote, advance, forward, benefit, contribute to, be of use to, conduce to, assist, besufficient for. 4. Satisfy, content, be sufficient for. 5. Treat, behave toward, requite, act toward. 6. Manage, manipulate, handle, work. 7. Wait on, attend, supply (with food). 8. Place, arrange, bring forward, deal, distribute. 9. Be in lieu of, answer, do duty for. 10. Comply with, yield to, submit to. II. v. n. 1. Be a servant, be a slave, be in bondage, be in subjection. 2. Obey, be dutiful, perform duty. 3. Answer, do, be sufficient, be of use. 4. Suit, be convenient, be suitable. 5. Attend, wait on. 6. Act, discharge the requirements of, officiate, minister.

Moby Thesaurus

accommodate, accord, act, act as, act for, administer, administer to, advance, advantage, afford, allot, allow, answer, answer for, assist, attend, attend on, attend to, avail, award, ball, be OK, be correct, be equal to, be found wanting, be handy, be inferior, be instrumental, be intimate, be of use, be right, bear, bear arms, befit, befitting, behave, bend to, benefit, bestead, bestow, bestow on, bias, bid come, bowl, break no bones, call, call away, call back, call for, call forth, call in, call out, call together, call up, care for, carry arms, cast, catapult, cater to, change of pace, change-up, chore, chuck, chunk, cite, cohabit, come short, come together, commit adultery, communicate, complete, conduce, confer, conjure, conjure up, contribute, convene, convoke, copulate, couple, cover, curve, dance attendance upon, dart, dash, deal, deal out, demand, diddle, dish out, dish up, dispense, dispose, distribute, do, do active duty, do duty, do for, do good, do it, do no harm, do service to, do the job, do the trick, dole, dole out, donate, downcurve, drudge, endure, evoke, extend, facilitate, fail, fall short, fastball, favor, fight for, fill the bill, fire, fit, fling, flip, follow, fork, fork out, fornicate, forward, forward pass, frig, fulfill, function, function as, get by, gift, gift with, give, give freely, give good returns, give out, go, go around, go between, go through, grant, gratify, hack it, hand out, have a tendency, have nothing on, have sex, have sexual relations, head, heap, heave, help, help to, hold, hurl, hurtle, impart, incline, incurve, indent, invoke, issue, jerk, just do, knuckleball, lackey, lance, last, lateral, lateral pass, launch, lavish, lay, lead, lean, let fly, let have, lie with, lob, look after, look to, maid, make, make available, make it with, make love, make out, make the grade, mate, mediate, meet, meet requirements, mete, mete out, minister to, mount, move, muster, muster up, not approach, not come amiss, not come near, not compare, not fail, not hack it, not make it, not measure up, oblige, offer, officiate, operate, order up, outcurve, page, pander to, pass, pass muster, pay, pay off, peg, pelt, perform as, pitch, pitchfork, play, play second fiddle, point, point to, pour, practice, preconize, present, proceed, proffer, profit, promote, provide, put, put the shot, qualify, rain, rank under, reach, recall, redound to, relate, render, requisition, satisfy, screw, screwball, send after, send for, serve the purpose, service, set, set out, set toward, shell out, shot-put, shoulder a gun, shoulder arms, show a tendency, shower, shy, sinker, sleep with, slider, sling, slip, snap, snow, soldier, spend, spitball, spitter, stand, stand up, stretch, subpoena, subserve, suffice, suit, suit the occasion, summon, summon forth, summon up, summons, supply, survive, take care of, take it, tend, tender, throw, tilt, toss, trend, turn, upcurve, upon, use, valet, verge, vouchsafe, wait, wait on, want, warp, wear the uniform, work, work for, work toward, yield, yield a profit