| 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 Phrasal Verb: The right, manner, or act of serving in many court games. serve up Baseball Idiom: To pitch (a ball) over the middle of home plate, where it is likely to be hit hard. 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 serv  re, from servus, slave.] |
serve
Verb
[serving, served]
1. to be of service to (a person, community, or cause); help
2. to perform an official duty or duties: he served on several university committees
3. to attend to (customers) in a shop
4. to provide (guests) with food or drink: he served dinner guests German wine
5. to provide (food or drink) for customers: breakfast is served from 7 am
6. to provide with something needed by the public: the community served by the school
7. to work as a servant for (a person)
8. to go through (a period of police or military service, apprenticeship, or imprisonment)
9. to meet the needs of: they serve a purpose
10. to perform a function: the attacks only served to strengthen their resolve
11. (of a male animal) to mate with (a female animal)
12. Tennis, squash, etc. to put (the ball) into play
13. to deliver (a legal document) to (a person)
14. serve someone right Informal to be what someone deserves, esp. for doing something stupid or wrong
Noun
Tennis, squash, etc. short for service (sense 12) [Latin servus a slave]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  serve - (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play; "his powerful serves won the game"squash rackets, squash racquets, squash - a game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with long-handled rackets badminton - a game played on a court with light long-handled rackets used to volley a shuttlecock over a net lawn tennis, tennis - a game played with rackets by two or four players who hit a ball back and forth over a net that divides the court tennis shot, tennis stroke - the act of hitting a tennis ball with a tennis racket ace - a serve that the receiver is unable to reach fault - (sports) a serve that is illegal (e.g., that lands outside the prescribed area); "he served too many double faults" |
| Verb | 1. | serve - 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" service, serve - be used by; as of a utility; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses" suffice, answer, do, serve - 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" prelude - serve as a prelude or opening to act as - function as or act like; "This heap of stones will act as a barrier" |
| 2. | serve - 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" sit - serve in a specific professional capacity; "the priest sat for confession"; "she sat on the jury" staff - serve on the staff of; "The two men staff the reception desk" act - discharge one's duties; "She acts as the chair"; "In what capacity are you acting?" rotate - perform a job or duty on a rotating basis; "Interns have to rotate for a few months" officiate, function - perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function; "His wife officiated as his private secretary" do work, work - be employed; "Is your husband working again?"; "My wife never worked"; "Do you want to work after the age of 60?"; "She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money"; "She works as a waitress to put herself through college" serve - do military service; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted" represent - be a delegate or spokesperson for; represent somebody's interest or be a proxy or substitute for, as of politicians and office holders representing their constituents, or of a tenant representing other tenants in a housing dispute; "I represent the silent majority" | |
| 3. | serve - contribute or conduce to; "The scandal served to increase his popularity" serve well, serve - 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" facilitate, help - be of use; "This will help to prevent accidents" | |
| 4. | serve - be used by; as of a utility; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses" | |
| 5. | serve - help to some food; help with food or drink; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself" | |
| 6. | serve - 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" | |
| 7. | serve - 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" work - exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity; "I will work hard to improve my grades"; "she worked hard for better living conditions for the poor" | |
| 8. | serve - 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" serve - contribute or conduce to; "The scandal served to increase his popularity" | |
| 9. | serve - spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years for embezzlement" admit - serve as a means of entrance; "This ticket will admit one adult to the show" | |
| 10. |  serve - 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"valet - serve as a personal attendant to aid, assist, help - give help or assistance; be of service; "Everyone helped out during the earthquake"; "Can you help me carry this table?"; "She never helps around the house" fag - act as a servant for older boys, in British public schools serve - 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" | |
| 11. | serve - deliver a warrant or summons to someone; "He was processed by the sheriff" subpoena - serve or summon with a subpoena; "The witness and her records were subpoenaed" deliver - bring to a destination, make a delivery; "our local super market delivers" | |
| 12. | serve - 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" bridge over, tide over, keep going - suffice for a period between two points; "This money will keep us going for another year" go a long way - suffice or be adequate for a while or to a certain extent serve, function - 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" measure up, qualify - prove capable or fit; meet requirements go around - be sufficient; "There's not enough to go around" | |
| 13. | serve - do military service; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted" serve - 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" | |
| 14. | serve - mate with; "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes" stand - be available for stud services; "male domestic animals such as stallions serve selected females" | |
| 15. | serve - put the ball into play; "It was Agassi's turn to serve" court game - an athletic game played on a court ace - serve an ace against (someone) |
serve
verb 3. be adequate, do, suffice, answer, suit, content, satisfy, be good enough, be acceptable, fill the bill (informal) answer the purpose
serve as something or someone act as, function as, do the work of, do duty as
Translations
serve [səːv] vt → servir [+ customer]; atender; [train] → tener parada en [+ apprenticeship]; hacer [+ prison term]; cumplir
vi [servant, soldier etc] → servir;
(TENNIS) → sacar
n (TENNIS) → saque m;
are you being served? → ¿le atienden?;
serve out, serve up vt [+ food] → servir
serve [səːv] vt [+ employer etc] → servir, être au service de [+ purpose]; servir à [+ customer, food, meal]; servir;
vi (Tennis) → servir (= be useful);
serve out, serve up vt [+ food] → servir
serve [səːv] vt → dienen +dat;
(in shop, with food/drink) → bedienen;
(food, meal) → servieren;
(purpose) → haben;
(apprenticeship) → durchmachen;
(prison term) → verbüßen
(Tennis) → aufschlagen;
(soldier) → dienen;
(be useful);
to serve on a jury → Geschworene(r) f(m) sein;
serve up serve vt = serve out
serve [səːv] vt [+ employer etc] → servire, essere a servizio di [+ purpose]; servire a [+ customer, food, meal]; servire [+ apprenticeship]; fare [+ prison term]; scontare
vi (also TENNIS) → servire; [soldier etc] → prestare servizio (= be useful): to serve as/for/to do → servire da/per/per fare
n (TENNIS) → servizio;
are you being served? → la stanno servendo?;
serve out, serve up vt [+ food] → servire
v serve [səːv]
1 to work for a person etc eg as a servant He served his master for forty years. dien يَخْدُم слуга съм на sloužit tjene servieren υπηρετώ servir teenima خدمتكاري كردن palvella servir לְהַגִיש कार्य करना služiti, raditi za koga (ki)szolgál melayani þjóna servire 仕える ...을 위하여 일하다 tarnauti kalpot bekerja sebagai pembantu rumah dienen tjene służyć servir a servi работать прислугой slúžiť služiti (komu) služiti tjäna รับใช้ hizmet etmek 為...服務 служити نوکری کرنا phục vụ 为...服务
2 to distribute food etc or supply goods She served the soup to the guests; Which shop assistant served you (with these goods)? bedien, opdien يُقَدِّم الطَّعام والشَّراب، يَخْدُم المائِدَه сервирам podávat, obsluhovat servere; betjene dienen σερβίρω, εξυπηρετώ servir serveerima, teenindama پذيرايي كردن tarjoilla, palvella servir לְהָגִיש परोसना, परसना poslužiti, posluživati felszolgál; kiszolgál menghidangkan bera fram, framreiða servire 給仕する (음식 등을) 제공하다; (물건을) 공급하다 patiekti apkalpot; apgādāt (ar precēm) menghidangkan bedienen servere; ekspedere; betjene podawać servir a servi разносить; обслуживать podávať, obsluhovať streči poslužiti servera, betjäna, expediera, förse บริการอาหาร servis yapmak, vermek 端上（飯菜等） подавати; обслуговувати کھانا پیش کرنا dọn ăn 端上（饭菜等）
3 to be suitable for a purpose This upturned bucket will serve as a seat. dien يَصْلُح لِ، يَسُد مَسَد، يَكون بِمَثابَة служа за sloužit tjene dienen χρησιμεύω, είμαι κατάλληλος για κτ. servir (de) sobima, kõlbama مناسب بودن sopia servir (de) לְשַמֵש पूरा करना, संतुष्ट करना odgovarati (svrsi) szolgál vmiül cocok duga, nÿtast servire ～に役立つ (목적에) 맞다 tikti, būti noderēt; kalpot (kādam nolūkam) boleh digunakan dienen tjene, gjøre tjeneste som służyć servir a servi (de) служить slúžiť rabiti poslužiti tjäna, passa, duga, fungera เหมาะสมกับจุดประสงค์ ...-e/a yaramak, işini görmek 适用 годитися, бути придатним کام آنا hợp với 适用
4 to perform duties, eg as a member of the armed forces He served (his country) as a soldier for twenty years; I served on the committee for five years. dien يَخْدُم في الجَيْش служа sloužit; pracovat tjene; gøre tjeneste dienen υπηρετώ, θητεύω servir, prestar servicio teenima خدمت كردن palvella, toimia servir; être membre de לְשָרֵת कतर्व्य पूरा करना vršiti dužnost, biti član (odbora) szolgál(atban áll) mengabdi gegna hlutverki/skyldu servire; essere membro di 勤める 근무하다, (특히 군무에) 복무하다 tarnauti dienēt; veikt pienākumu[] menjalankan tugas dienen avtjene; sitte i, være medlem av odbywać służbę, pełnić funkcję servir a sluji; a fi membru (al) служить, исполнять обязанности slúžiť; pracovať služiti služiti tjäna, tjänstgöra ปฏิบัติหน้าที่ askerlik yapmak, asker olmak 服役 служити в армії فرض ادا کرنا phục vụ 服役
5 to undergo (a prison sentence) He served (a sentence of) six years for armed robbery. uitdien يَقْضي مُدَّة الحُكم أو العُقوبَه излежавам odsedět si (trest) afsone absitzen εκτίω (ποινή) cumplir karistust kandma زنداني كشيدن kärsiä purger (une peine) לְרַצוֹת עוֹנֶש सजा भुगतना služiti (kaznu), odslužiti (büntetését) tölti menjalani hukuman sitja af sér scontare 服役する (죄수로서) 복역하다 atlikti (bausmę) izciest sodu menjalani hukuman uitzitten sone, sitte inne odsiadywać karę cumprir a ispăşi отбывать (срок) odsedieť si (trest) odsedeti odslužiti avtjäna ติดตะราง hapis cezası çekmek, hapiste yatmak 度過（服刑） відбувати (покарання) سزا کاٹنا tống, gạt 度过（服刑）
6 in tennis and similar games, to start the play by throwing up the ball etc and hitting it He served the ball into the net; Is it your turn to serve? afslaan يَضْرُب الضَّرْبَة المَبدئِيَّه في التِّنس أو كُرة الطاوِلَه сервирам (в тенис) podávat serve aufschlagen κάνω σερβίς sacar servima سرويس زدن syöttää servir לְהָגִיש כַּדוּר गेंद चलना servirati adogat melakukan serve gefa upp servire サーブする (공을) 서브하다 servuoti servēt membuat pukulan servis serveren serve serwować servir a servi подавать podávať servirati servirati serva ลูกเสิร์ฟ servis atmak 發球 подавати м'яч ٹینس میں گیند مار کر آغاذ کرنا giao bóng 发球
n
act of serving (a ball). afslaan الضَّربَةُ المَبدَئِيَّه في التِّنِس أو كُرَة الطّاوِلَه сервис podání serv der Aufschlag σερβίς servicio serv سروس syöttö service הַגָשָת כַּדוּר सर्विस करना servis adogatás (teniszben) serve uppgjöf servizio サーブ (정구 등의) 서브 servas serve pukulan servis opslag serve, utspill, første slag serw serviço serviciu подача podanie servis servis serv การตีลูกเสิร์ฟ servis (atma) 發球 подача м'яча بال مارنے کا عمل cú, lượt giao bóng 发球
n server
1 (usually in plural) a utensil used in serving food salad servers. opdienlepel طَقْم من الآنية تُسْتَخْدم على المائِدَه поднос servírovací mísa bestik; -bestik das Servierbesteck σκεύος σερβιρίσματος (πληθ.) cubierto de servir serveerimisnõud قايق مخصوص ottimet couvert à servir מָגַש परोसने के लिए उपयोग में लाया जाने वाला बरतन poslužavnik, plitica tál peralatan makan áhöld til að skenkja; spaði, skeið, gafall posate 盆 쟁반, 음식을 나누어 담는 식기 įrankis valgiui įdėti į lėkštę paplāte sudu garpu opscheplepel serveringsbestikk sztuciec utensílio tavă лопаточка и вилка servírovací vozík servirni pribor poslužavnik bestick สิ่งที่ใช้ในการเสิร์ฟอาหาร çatallı kaşık 菜盤 посуд کھانا پروسنے کے برتن khay bưng thức ăn 菜盘
2 a person who serves (a ball). bouler, afslaner من يَسْتَهِل الضَّرْبَة المَبدَئِيَّه сервиращ (в тенис) podávající hráč, -ka server der Aufschläger παίκτης που κάνει σερβίς camarero, mesero servija زننده سرويس syöttäjä serveur/-euse שָׁרָת परोसने वाला igrač koji ima servis adogató (teniszben) pelaku serve sá sem á uppgjöf servitore, cameriere サーブする人 (공을) 서브하는 사람 servuotojas servētājs peservis serveerder server, utspiller serwujący aquele que serve jucător care serveşte (mingea) игрок, подающий мяч podávajúci hráč, -ka server server servare ผู้เสิร์ฟลูกบอล servis atan oyuncu 發球者 гравець, що подає м'яча گیند کو پہلے مارنے والا người giao bóng 发球者
n serving
a portion of food served I had two servings of pie. porsie حِصَّة من الطَّعام او الشَّراب على المائِدَه порция porce portion die Portion μερίδα porción, ración portsjon پرس غدا annos portion מָנָה परोसा गया भोजन porcija adag (étel) porsi skammtur porzione １人前 음식 한 그릇 porcija porcija hidangan portie porsjon porcja porção porţie порция; кусок porcia obrok porcije portion ปริมาณอาหารที่ใช้เสิร์ฟแก่คน ๆ หนึ่งในแต่ละมื้อ porsiyon 上菜 порція, шматок پروسے گیے کھانے کی مقدار một phần nhỏ thức ăn, suất ăn 上菜
it serves you etc right
you etc deserve your misfortune etc He has done no work so it will serve him right if he fails his exam. يَسْتَحِق ما يَحْصَل لَه dobře ti tak selv være ude om das geschieht dir, etc. recht καλά να πάθεις! tenerlo bien merecido paras sulle! se on (sinulle jne.) oikein fait pour c'est bien megérdemel (vmi rosszat) sudah selayaknya vera e-m mátulegt (meritarsi) いい気味だ 받는 불행은 마땅한 것이다, 자업자득이다 taip tau ir reikia tā tev (viņam u.tml.) vajag het is je verdfiende loon det har (du, osv.) godt av! bem feito поделом!, так и надо! dobre ti tak prav ti/mu... je det är rätt åt dig Oh olsun!, yapmamalıyd!ı, ettiğini buldu! 應得 应得
serve an apprenticeship
to spend a (fixed) period of time as an apprentice. vakleerling wees يَقْضي وقْتا يَتَتَلْمَذُ чиракувам vyučit se stå i lære in die Lehre gehen θητεύω ως βοηθός hacer el aprendizaje õpipoisiks olema, koolis käima به شاگردي گرفتن suorittaa oppiaikansa faire son apprentissage לִהיוֹת שוּלִיָה अप्रेंटिस का काल पूरा करना odraditi praksu, naukovanje tanulóidőt (le)tölt menjadi magang vera í læri fare il tirocinio 見習をする 도제의 연한을 채우다 būti mokiniu, pameistriu būt (kalpot) par mācekli menjadi perantis in de leer zijn stå/være i lære pobierać naukę ser aprendiz a-şi face ucenicia служить подмастерьем vyučiť sa služiti vajeniško dobo odslužiti šegrtovanje fullgöra sin lärotid, vara lärling ใช้เวลาในการฝึกงาน çıraklık yapmak 作實習生 проходити строк навчання تربیت میں ایک عرصہ گزارنا qua thời gian học nghề 作实习生
serve out
to distribute to each of a number of people She served out the pudding. opskep يُوَزِّع على عددٍ من النّاس разпределям podat všem dele ud austeilen σερβίρω servir välja jagama, serveerima سپري كردن tarjoilla servir לְחַלֵק परोसना razdijeliti, podijeliti kioszt membagikan bera fram; skammta servire 配る (음식 등을) 돌리다, 분배하다 išdalinti izdalīt (ēdienu) menghidangkan uitdelen porsjonere/dele ut podawać, częstować servir a distribui разносить podávať postreči razdeliti servera, portionera ut แจกจ่ายให้กับผู้อื่น dağıtmak 給每一個人配發（菜） роздавати سبھی لوگوں میں تقسیم کرنا phân phát lần lượt 给每一个人配发（菜）
serve up
to start serving (a meal). opskep يَبدأ تَقديم الطَّعام والشَّراب поднасям naservírovat servere auftischen αρχίζω το σερβίρισμα servir, ofrecer serveerimist alustama غذا كشيدن alkaa tarjoilla servir לְהָגִיש परोसना शुरू करना servirati, dati jelo felszolgál, tálal menghidangkan bera fram servire 給仕する (음식을 ) 내놓다 paduoti (valgyti) likt (ēdienu) galdā mula menghidangkan opdienen servere, diske opp med podawać servir a servi (la masă) подавать naservírovať postreči početi služiti duka upp เริ่มเสิร์ฟอาหาร servis yapmak 開始上菜 подавати, розносити کھان پروسنے کی شروعات کرنا dọn ăn, dọn bàn 开始上菜
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