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Meaning of SERVE

Pronunciation:  surv

WordNet Dictionary
  1. [n]  a stroke (in tennis or badminton or squash) that puts the ball in play; "his powerful serves won the game"
  2. [v]  put the ball into play; as in games like tennis; "It was Agassi's turn to serve"
  4. [v]  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"
  5. [v]  help to some food; help with food or drink; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself"
  6. [v]  mate with; "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes"
  7. [v]  deliver a warrant or summons to someone; "He was processed by the sheriff"
  8. [v]  do military service; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted"
  10. [v]  be used by; as of a utility; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses"
  11. [v]  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"
  12. [v]  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"
  13. [v]  contribute or conduce to; "The scandal served to increase his popularity"
  14. [v]  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 counrty well"
  16. [v]  spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years for embezzlement"

SERVE is a 5 letter word that starts with S.


 Synonyms: answer, assist, attend, attend to, dish, dish out, dish up, do, process, serve up, service, service, service, suffice, swear out, wait on
 See Also: ace, ace, act, act as, admit, aid, bridge over, bring about, caddie, caddy, cater, copulate, couple, deliver, do work, do work, effect, effectuate, facilitate, fag, fault, foster, fulfil, fulfill, function, function, function, go, go, go a long way, go around, help, help, keep going, let, live up to, mate, measure up, move, net ball, nurture, officiate, operate, pair, pass, plank, ply, prelude, provide, qualify, represent, rotate, run, satisfy, serve, set up, spend, stand, subpoena, supply, tennis shot, tennis stroke, tide over, valet, work, work



Webster's 1913 Dictionary
    servire; akin to servus a servant or slave, servare to
    protecting. Cf. {Conserve}, {Desert} merit, {Dessert},
    {Observe}, {Serf}, {Sergeant}.]
       continuously or statedly for the benefit of; to do service
       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.
             Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served
             to mine enemies.                      --Shak.
       appear as the inferior of; to minister to.
             Bodies bright and greater should not serve The less
             not bright.                           --Milton.
             Others, pampered in their shameless pride, Are
             served in plate and in their chariots ride.
       a portion of anything, especially of food prepared for
       eating; -- often with up; formerly with in.
             will come in to dinner.               --Shak.
             Some part he roasts, then serves it up so dressed.
       churches; to serve one's country.
       for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn.
             Turn it into some advantage, by observing where it
             can serve another end.                --Jer. Taylor.
       serves one for a seat and a couch.
       toward; as, he served me very ill.
    11. (Law)
            actually or constructively, in such manner as the law
            requires; as, to serve a summons.
        to serve a term in prison.
        said of the male.
        from the weather. See under {Serving}.
    {To serve an attachment} or {a writ of attachment} (Law), to
    {To serve an execution} (Law), to levy it on a lands, goods,
       or person, by seizure or taking possession.
    {To serve an office}, to discharge a public duty.
    {To serve a process} (Law), in general, 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 his usual place
       of abode.
    {To serve a warrant}, to read it, and seize the person
       against whom it is issued.
    {To serve a writ} (Law), to read it to the defendant, or to
       leave an attested copy at his usual place of abode.
    {To serve one out}, to retaliate upon; to requite. ``I'll
       serve you out for this.'' --C. Kingsley.
    {To serve one right}, to treat, or cause to befall one,
       as, it serves the scoundrel right.
    {To serve one's self of}, to avail one's self of; to make use
       of. [A Gallicism]
             I will serve myself of this concession.
    {To serve out}, to distribute; as, to serve out rations.
    {To serve the time} or {the hour}, to regulate one's actions
       by the requirements of the time instead of by one's duty;
       to be a timeserver. [Obs.]
             They think herein we serve the time, because thereby
             we either hold or seek preferment.    --Hooker.
         assist; benefit; succor.
  2. \Serve\, v. i.
       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.
    2. To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with household
       affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc.
             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
             Many . . . who had before been great commanders, but
             now served as private gentlemen without pay.
       be convenient or favorable.
             This little brand will serve to light your fire.
             As occasion serves, this noble queen And prince
             shall follow with a fresh supply.     --Shak.
    5. (Tennis) To lead off in delivering the ball.
Computing Dictionary

To be a server, to provide a service.

E.g., "The shttpd serves requested documents to clients over a secure link."