SERVE • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Serve

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Serve

verb

(past & past part. served; pres. part. serving)

1.

Serve a purpose, role, or function. Synonym: function. "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"

2.

Do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function. "She served in Congress for two terms"

3.

Contribute or conduce to.

4.

Be used by; as of a utility. Synonym: service. "The garage served to shelter his horses"

5.

Help to some food; help with food or drink. Synonym: help.

6.

Provide (usually but not necessarily food). Synonyms: dish, dish out, dish up, serve up. "She dished out the soup at 8 P.M." , "The entertainers served up a lively show"

7.

Devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas. "He served the church" , "Serve the country"

8.

Promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to. Synonym: serve well. "Their interests are served" , "The lake serves recreation" , "The President's wisdom has served the country well"

9.

Spend time in prison or in a labor camp. Synonym: do.

10.

Work for or be a servant to. Synonyms: assist, attend, attend to, wait on. "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"

11.

Deliver a warrant or summons to someone. Synonyms: process, swear out.

12.

Be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity. Synonyms: answer, do, suffice. "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.

Do military service. "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted"

14.

Mate with. Synonym: service.

15.

Put the ball into play.

noun

1.

(sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play. Synonym: service.

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Etymology of 'Serve'

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drop one's serve

first-come-first-serve

WordNet 3.0 © 2010 Princeton University

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"Serve" Quotes from Famous Books

... knowing our friend Jack was not over affluent, had no idea of spoiling him by too much luxury, and as the railway would serve a certain distance in the line of Hanby House, he despatched Jack to the Over-shoes-over-boots station with the dog-cart, and told him he would be sure to find a 'bus, or to get some sort of conveyance at the Squandercash station ...

— Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour • R. S. Surtees

... entertained, feelings of the most profound respect. Nobody can possibly entertain a more ardent devotion for a leader than I entertain for General Stockwell under whom it has been my good fortune to have the honour to serve in 1917, in 1918, and in 1919. The longer I have served under him the more have I admired his perfectly obvious talent, his brilliant initiative, and his striking personality. His record in the Great War is unique. As a captain in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, he commanded ...

— At Ypres with Best-Dunkley • Thomas Hope Floyd

... because the pious are oppressed by the wicked? Who does satisfaction to his own calling? Who loves his neighbor as himself? Who is not tempted by lust? Accordingly Paul says, Rom. 7, 19: The good that I would I do not; but the evil which I would not that I do. Likewise v. 25: With the mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh, the law of sin. Here he openly declares that he serves the law of sin. And David says, Ps. 143, 2: Enter not into judgment with Thy servant; for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. Here even a servant of God prays ...

— The Apology of the Augsburg Confession • Philip Melanchthon

... I should think this might be extremely efficient," I said, "but I don't see that it makes any provision for the professional classes, the men who serve the nation with brains instead of hands. Of course you can't get along without the brain-workers. How, then, are they selected from those who are to serve as farmers and mechanics? That must require a very delicate sort of ...

— Looking Backward - 2000-1887 • Edward Bellamy

... into them that alone can make their teaching effective for good citizenship. They belong to the people. Why should they not be used by the people Sunday and week-day and day and night, for whatever will serve their ends—if the ...

— The Battle with the Slum • Jacob A. Riis

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