- to act as a servant.
- to wait on table, as a waiter.
- 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.
- to go through a term of service, do duty as a soldier, sailor, senator, juror, etc.
- to have definite use: This cup will serve as a sugar bowl.
- to answer the purpose: That will serve to explain my actions.
- (in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put the ball or shuttlecock in play with a stroke, swing, or hit.
- to be favorable, suitable, or convenient, as weather or time.
- to act as a server.
- to be in the service of; work for.
- to be useful or of service to; help.
- to go through (a term of service, imprisonment, etc.).
- to render active service to (a sovereign, commander, etc.).
- to render obedience or homage to (God, a sovereign, etc.).
- to perform the duties of (a position, an office, etc.): to serve his mayoralty.
- to answer the requirements of; suffice: This will serve our needs for the moment.
- to contribute to; promote: to serve a cause.
- to wait upon at table; act as a waiter or waitress to.
- to carry and distribute (portions of food or drink) to a patron or a specific table, as a waiter or waitress.
- to act as a host or hostess in offering (a person) a portion of food or drink: May I serve you with some tea and cake?
- to act as a host or hostess in offering or distributing (a portion or portions of food or drink) to another: They served tea and cake to their guests.
- to provide with a regular or continuous supply of something.
- (in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put (the ball or shuttlecock) in play.
- to treat in a specified manner: That served him ill.
- Law.
- to make legal delivery of (a process or writ).
- to present (a person) with a writ.
- to gratify (desire, wants, needs, etc.).
- (of a male animal) to mate with; service.
- to operate or keep in action (a gun, artillery, etc.).
- to wrap (a rope) tightly with small stuff, keeping the turns as close together as possible.
- the act, manner, or right of serving, as in tennis.
- to treat one as one deserves, especially to punish justly: It will serve you right if she never speaks to you again.
- to be in the service of (a person)
- to render or be of service to (a person, cause, etc); help
- (in a shop) to give (customers) information about articles for sale and to hand over articles purchased
- to provide (guests, customers, etc) with food, drink, etc
- to distribute or provide (food, drink, etc) for guests, customers, etc
- to present (food, drink, etc) in a specified manner
- to provide with a regular supply of
- to work actively for
- to pay homage to
- to answer the requirements of; suit
- to have a use; function
- to go through (a period of service, enlistment, imprisonment, etc)
- (of weather, conditions, etc) to be favourable or suitable
- (of a male animal) to copulate with (a female animal)
- to put (the ball) into play
- to act as server at Mass or other services
- to deliver (a legal document, esp a writ or summons) to (a person)
- to provide (a machine, etc) with an impulse or signal for control purposes or with a continuous supply of fuel, working material, etc
- to bind (a rope, spar, etc) with wire or fine cord to protect it from chafing, etc
- to pay a person back, esp for wrongful or foolish treatment or behaviour
- sport short for service 1 (def. 17)
- a portion or helping of food or drink