Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
1,797,993,088 visitors served.
forum mailing list For webmasters
?
New: Language forums
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

serve up

   Also found in: Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
serve  (sûrv)
v. served, serv·ing, serves
v.tr.
1.
a. To work for.
b. To be a servant to.
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. To supply (goods or services) to customers. See Usage Note at service.
4. To assist the celebrant during (Mass).
5.
a. To meet the requirements of; suffice for: This will serve the purpose.
b. To be of assistance to or promote the interests of; aid: "Both major parties today seek to serve the national interest" (John F. Kennedy).
6.
a. To work through or complete (a period of service): served four terms in Congress.
b. To be in prison for (a period or term): served 10 years for armed robbery.
7. To fight or undergo military service for: served the country for five years in the navy.
8. To give homage and obedience to: served God.
9. To act toward (another) in a specified way: She has served me ill.
10. To copulate with; service. Used of male animals.
11. Law
a. To deliver or present (a writ or summons).
b. To present such a writ to.
12. Sports To put (a ball or shuttlecock) in play, as in tennis, badminton, or jai alai.
13. To bind or whip (a rope) with fine cord or wire.
v.intr.
1. To be employed as a servant.
2. To do a term of duty: serve in the U.S. Air Force; serve on a jury.
3. To act in a particular capacity: serve as a clerk.
4. To be of service or use; function: Let this incident serve as a reminder to future generations.
5. To meet requirements or needs; satisfy: a device that will serve well.
6. To wait on tables: serve at luncheon.
7. Sports To put a ball or shuttlecock into play, as in court games.
8. To assist the celebrant during Mass.
n. Sports
The right, manner, or act of serving in many court games.
Phrasal Verb:
serve up Baseball
To pitch (a ball) over the middle of home plate, where it is likely to be hit hard.
Idiom:
serve (someone) right
To be deserved under the circumstances: Punish him; it will serve him right for what he has done to you.

[Middle English serven, from Old French servir, from Latin servre, from servus, slave.]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Verb1.serve up - 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"
plank - cook and serve on a plank; "Planked vegetable"; "Planked shad"
help, serve - help to some food; help with food or drink; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself"
cater, ply, provide, supply - give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance; "The hostess provided lunch for all the guests"
Translations
? serve up
vt sep
foodservieren; rationsverteilen; you can’t serve this stuff up (inf)so etwas kann man doch niemandem vorsetzen!
(inf: = present) → servieren (inf); excuseauftischen


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Presently the bird came in and wanted to serve up the dinner, but he could nowhere see the cook.
Having premised thus much, we will now detain those who like our bill of fare no longer from their diet, and shall proceed directly to serve up the first course of our history for their entertainment.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.