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serve
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- pronunciation:
- suhrv
- parts of speech:
- intransitive verb, transitive verb, noun
- phrases:
- serve one right
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word Builder, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| inflections: |
serves, serving, served |
| definition 1: |
to give aid or help; be of use.
He served as a volunteer at the hospital.- synonyms:
- aid, assist, help
- similar words:
- attend, avail, minister, tend
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| definition 2: |
to work as a servant.
She served as a nanny to the children of the family.- similar words:
- attend, work
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| definition 3: |
to fulfill a term of service, esp. in the military or government.
He served in the Army for ten years.- similar words:
- soldier
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| definition 4: |
to have a particular function.
This table serves as a desk.- synonyms:
- function
- similar words:
- act, avail, behave, pass muster, suffice, suit, work
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| definition 5: |
to offer or provide food or drink; work as a waiter or waitress.
How long have you been serving at this restaurant?- synonyms:
- wait
- similar words:
- cater, wait on, wait upon
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| definition 6: |
in tennis and other games, to hit the ball to begin a point.
Elena will be serving first in the match.
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| related words: |
administer, do, function, oblige, officiate, pay, provide |
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| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| definition 1: |
to give aid or help to (an individual or individuals) either as a part of one's job or as a volunteer.
The clerk who served me at the jewelry counter was very knowledgeable.She believed it was her duty to serve those in need, so she devoted a great deal of time to her volunteer work.- synonyms:
- aid, assist, help
- similar words:
- accommodate, attend, avail, benefit, oblige, succor, tend
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| definition 2: |
to be of use to, esp. to one's community or country and to those people, as a group, who live in these places.
They are serving the community by planting flowers and trees.
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| definition 3: |
to offer or provide food and drink to.
The waiter served us very efficiently, but he wasn't very friendly.
- synonyms:
- wait on
- similar words:
- accommodate, assist, help
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| definition 4: |
to offer or provide (food and drink).
She served the vegetables first and then the ham.The waiter forgot to serve the drinks.The restaurant serves dinner from five o'clock until eleven o'clock.- synonyms:
- offer
- similar words:
- bring, cater, provide
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| definition 5: |
to work for, esp. as a servant.
He served the family for many years as a butler.- synonyms:
- wait on, work for
- similar words:
- assist, attend, wait upon
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| definition 6: |
to fulfill (a term of service, imprisonment, or the like).
She served two terms as a senator.He served ten years at the penitentiary.- similar words:
- carry out, complete, do, fulfill, pass, perform, represent
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| definition 7: |
to provide with something; supply.
The pie will serve six people.- synonyms:
- furnish, provide, supply
- similar words:
- deliver, give, grant, present, render
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| definition 8: |
to treat in a specified way.
It will serve him right to go to jail for all the terrible things he's done!- similar words:
- fit, suit
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| definition 9: |
in tennis and other games, to hit (the ball) to begin a point.
She served the ball hard and made an ace. |
| related words: |
answer, favor, profit, satisfy |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
in tennis and other games, an instance of serving, or the ability or tendency to serve in a particular way.
He has one of the most powerful serves in tennis.Go ahead. It's your serve. |
| related words: |
turn |
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| phrase: |
serve one right |
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