Serve

Definition: Serve

Serve

Noun

1. A stroke (in tennis or badminton or squash) that puts the ball in play; "his powerful serves won the game".

Verb

1. 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".

2. 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".

3. Contribute or conduce to; "The scandal served to increase his popularity".

4. Be used by; as of a utility: "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses".

5. Help to some food; help with food or drink; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself".

6. 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".

7. 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".

8. 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 counrty well".

9. Spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years for embezzlement".

10. : 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".

11. : deliver a warrant or summons to someone; "He was processed by the sheriff".

12. : 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".

13. : do military service; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted".

14. : mate with; "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes".

15. : put the ball into play; as in games like tennis; "It was Agassi's turn to serve".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "serve" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references)

Note: Serve \Serve\, transitive verb. [imperative past participle Served; present participle verb or noun Serving.]. (references)

Computing

Literature

Post & Telecom

Sports & Leisure

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

SERVE

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

Synonyms: Serve

Business

Officiate, serve, act; act one's part, play one's part; do duty; serve the office of, discharge the office of, perform the office of, perform the duties of, perform the functions of; hold an office, fill an office, fill a place, fill a situation; hold a portfolio, hold a place, hold a situation.

Obedience

Follow the lead of, follow to the world's end; serve; play second fiddle.

Utility

Verb: be useful; Adjective: avail, serve; subserve; (be instrumental to); conduce; (tend); answer, serve one's turn, answer a purpose, serve a purpose.

Crosswords: Serve

French (serf, serves, thrall), Italian (is needed, it is needed), Latin (servant, slave), Portuguese (serves), Portuguese Brazilian (serves), Swedish (serve, service).

You know, the elderly, although slow, and dangerous behind the wheel, can serve a purpose (Dumb and Dumber; writing credit: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly, and Bennett Yellin.)

We swears to serve the master of the precious (The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers; writing credit: Frances Walsh)

You are here for me. You are here to protect my interests and to serve my needs (Swimming With Sharks; writing credit: George Huang)

Hey, I guess they're right: senior citizens; although slow and dangerous behind the wheel--can still serve a purpose (Dumb & Dumber; writing credit: Peter Farrelly; Bennett Yellin)

Hey look, mister, we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast and we don't need any characters around to give the joint atmosphere (It's a Wonderful Life; writing credit: Philip Van Doren Stern; Frances Goodrich)

I know that I should serve my sentence (Just One More Chance; performing artist: Bing Crosby)

Girl, I'll serve you well (All 4 Love; performing artist: Color Me Badd)

I still got a purpose to serve (Put Your Lights On; performing artist: Everlast)

And what kind of God would serve this (The Remedy (I Won't Worry); performing artist: JASON MRAZ)

Serve words with nerve embedded I said it word (Feel Me Flow; performing artist: Naughty By Nature)

Serve locally. Pray globally. (references; author: unknown)

Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers. (references; author: unknown)

Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory capacity. (references; author: unknown)

Leadership is an opportunity to serve; it is not a trumpet call to self importance. (references; author: unknown)

If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning. (references; author: unknown)

La Vendetta è un piatto che si serve freddo (1971)

To Serve the Mind (1955)

It Would Serve 'Em Right (1953)

How Banks Serve (1950)

Proudly We Serve (1944)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Books

• And Serve It With Love: Favorite Family Recipes (Peaches and Cream Edition) (reference)

• Improving Your Serve (Contemporary Classics) (reference)

• Ready to Serve, Ready to Save: Strategies of Real-Life Search and Rescue Missions (reference)

  (more book examples)

Theater & Movies

• Dai-Guard - To Serve and Defend, But Not To Spend (Vol. 2) (reference)

• Burn Up Excess - To Serve and Protect (Vol. 1) (reference)

• The Twilight Zone: Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up/ To Serve Man (reference)

• A.D. Police - To Protect and Serve (Complete Series) (reference)

• To Protect and Serve (reference)

  (more DVD examples; more video examples)

Music

• Serve It to the Right: Combo & Modern Recordings (reference)

• Serve the Ego [CD-SINGLE] (reference)

• Presocratics Serve Imperialism [EP] (reference)

• Serve at Room Temperature [IMPORT] (reference)

• Serve Jah (reference)

  (more classical music examples; more popular music examples)

High Tech

• Power Serve Tennis (reference)

• INTEL SC5000 SERVE CHASIS BASE (reference)

• Micorosoft Internet Security & Accel Serve Enterprise 2000 Edition (1 Proccessor Lisense) (reference)

  (more camera examples; more video game examples; more computer examples; more electronic examples; more software examples)

Consumer Goods

• Zojirushi AH-HB10 XAD Smooth Serve 1-Liter Carafe, Stainless Steel (reference)

• Quick Serve Bottle Warmer (reference)

• Black & Decker IC200 Arctic Twister Ice Cream Factory Soft Serve Dispenser (reference)

• Zojirushi AH-HB10 BA Smooth Serve 1-Liter Carafe, Black (reference)

• Tupperware 6-Piece Rock 'N Serve Set with Seals (reference)

  (more baby examples; more wireless phone examples; more garden examples; more kitchen examples; more tool examples)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Shown is marinated beef steak with potato vegetable salad. Choose lean cuts of meat and trim all fat. Serve fruit for dessert. Potato salad can be made with low fat dressing instead of mayonnaise. This was a poster in the "Healthy Eating Tips" series. See artwork: PV-30. Credit: Len Rizzi (photographer).

(7) color slides show different ways to serve pancakes. (4) two single pancakes with maple syrup, (3) two single pancakes with butter and maple syrup. Credit: Renee Comet (photographer).

A native Aleut village at Karluk. Sod houses serve as insulation against the cold. F&WS 14,664. Credit: America's Coastlines.

The Sapelo Island lighthouse was built in 1820 on the south end of the island. It continues to serve as a navigational landmark for boatmen entering Doboy Sound and Duplin River system. Credit: America's Coastlines.

Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. A school of minnows at the edge of the marsh. Estuaries serve as nurseries for many marine species. Credit: National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR).

Estuaries serve as vital nurseries for a wide variety of fishes, shellfishes, and birds. The bellies of these three juvenile fishes are packed full of goodies from the marsh's bounty. Pictured here from top to bottom are young of the year mullet, flounder, and spot, all of which enter North Inlet Estuary in February from their offshore places of birth. Credit: National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR).

Long-term observatories serve as bases for various undersea operations. Credit: National Undersea Research Program (NURP).

Mangroves roots serve as critical habitat for many species and nutrient filters. Credit: National Undersea Research Program (NURP).

Scientist counting albatross chicks on Laysan Island - highly saline lake in background is full of brine shrimp and salt flies which serve as food for Laysan teal. Credit: Small World.

District Conservationist Carman Westerfield and Leesa Woodall, Executive Director for Lamar County Exposition Authority tour the Barnsville Recreation Center. The trail and center serve as an outdoor classroom and has a nature trail through natural and c. Credit: Jeff Vanuga.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Thus, at the beginning, Cain might take as much ground as he could till, and make it his own land, and yet leave enough to Abel's sheep to feed on; a few acres would serve for both their possessions. (Second Treatise of Government)

There are many other parts of the constitution which serve to illustrate this subject. (reference)

Officers newly appointed must undertake to serve on the active list for twenty-five consecutive years at least. (reference)

The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it--and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. (reference)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Any nonsense will serve.

The building was in ruins, but some dismantled rooms could be distinguished in it, one of which was well filled, and appeared to serve as a shed

To serve me well you all should do me duty, Teach me to be your queen and you my subjects

She went back to the stove, laid out the plates, and began to serve the supper

They have a kind of hard flints, which by grinding against other stones, they form into instruments, that serve instead of wedges, axes, and hammers

Let Harlequin be taken with a fit of the colic and his trappings will have to serve that mood too.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Health

You can freeze portions of a favorite dish and serve them when desired. (references)

Arthropod ticks and mosquitoes serve as vectors for some of the illnesses. (references)

Many organizations for people who are blind also serve those with low vision. (references)

Business

A typical U.S. frozen food warehouse will serve 300 stores. (references)

These same groups serve 275 out of the 425 cities with Cable TV systems. (references)

In this regards IP will serve as a platform for future multimedia services. (references)

Children

Philippines

Policy guidelines of the Communist Party/National Democratic Front state that minors may serve in noncombat positions. (references)

East Timor

There is only one school for children with disabilities (in Dili) that was able to serve only 1/3 of their pre-1999 enrollment. (references)

Russia

Special institutions exist for children with various disabilities but do not serve their needs adequately due to a lack of finances. (references)

Civil Liberties

Korea

These serve as interlocutors with foreign church groups and international aid organizations. (references)

Uzbekistan

Passports serve as both internal identity cards and, when properly certified, as external passports. (references)

Albania

Publishers and newspaper owners often edit news stories to serve their own political and economic interests. (references)

Economic History

Albania

All members serve 4-year terms. (references)

Macau

Foreign judges may serve on the courts. (references)

Switzerland

Members of both houses serve for 4 years. (references)

Human Rights

Albania

Justices of the Supreme Court serve for 7 years. (references)

Swaziland

Local judges serve indefinitely with good behavior. (references)

Czech Republic

The officer continued to serve on the police force. (references)

Indigenous People

Guatemala

The Public Defender's Office began hiring attorneys fluent in indigenous languages and assigning them to areas where they could serve as translators in addition to defending their clients. (references)

Australia

Following the November parliamentary elections, the Prime Minister Howard designated one minister to serve as both Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Reconciliation and Minister of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. (references)

Minorities

Israel and the occupied territories

Some Bedouin and other Arab citizens who are not subject to the draft serve voluntarily. (references)

Political Economy

Peru

Like the President, they serve five-year terms. (references)

Colombia

The incumbent is allowed to serve only one 4-year term. (references)

Maldives

The unicameral Majlis is composed of 50 members, who serve five-year terms. (references)

Political Rights

Cameroon

The ministers serve at the President's pleasure. (references)

Iran

He became the first Majles member to serve a jail sentence. (references)

Liberia

Local officials serve mainly to lobby the central Government. (references)

Trade

Ecuador

Commercial banks serve as the primary outlets for GOE-backed financing. (references)

Cote D'ivoire

Bonded warehouses serve mostly for transshipment of goods to Mali and Burkina Faso. (references)

Burma

These offices may serve as a trade and commerce liaison for local and foreign clients. (references)

Travel

Argentina

Two main airports serve Buenos Aires. (references)

Pakistan

No U.S. carriers presently serve Pakistan. (references)

West Bank

Most WB/G restaurants serve traditional Palestinian food. (references)

Women

Austria

Women are allowed to serve in the military voluntarily. (references)

Israel and the occupied territories

Women serve as flight surgeons and flight paramedics; there are no female flight mechanics. (references)

Qatar

Many serve as senior professionals in government service, education, health, and private business. (references)

Worker Rights

Indonesia

Other children, mostly girls, serve as live-in domestic servants. (references)

Mauritius

Ten major labor federations serve as umbrella organizations for these smaller unions. (references)

Poland

They are required to serve a minimum number of clients each day in order to earn their keep. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Expressions using "serve": break of serve ♦ licence to serve wine ♦ overhand serve ♦ ready to serve ♦ serve a ball ♦ serve a prison sentence ♦ serve a purpose ♦ serve a sentence ♦ serve a trick ♦ serve a writ on smb. ♦ serve again ♦ serve an office ♦ serve as ♦ serve as a guideline ♦ serve as a priest ♦ serve as a solder ♦ serve at table ♦ serve faithfully ♦ serve for ♦ serve for a certain time ♦ serve him right ♦ serve his country ♦ serve in office ♦ serve in the army ♦ serve in the line ♦ serve in the ranks ♦ serve in the ranks of a party ♦ serve in the ranks of an army ♦ serve in the ranks of an union ♦ serve mass ♦ serve notice ♦ serve on a committee ♦ serve on a jury ♦ serve on draught ♦ serve on the jury ♦ serve on the panel ♦ serve one right ♦ serve one's apprenticeship ♦ serve one's country ♦ serve one's own interests ♦ serve one's sentence ♦ serve one's time ♦ serve one's turn ♦ serve oneself ♦ serve out ♦ serve smb. out ♦ serve smb. with a writ ♦ serve smb. with notice ♦ serve the ball ♦ serve the purpose ♦ serve the purpose of ♦ serve time ♦ serve up ♦ serve well ♦ serve with ♦ serve you right! ♦ tennis type serve ♦ this will serve the purpose ♦ To serve a process ♦ To serve a warrant ♦ To serve a writ ♦ to serve a writ of attachment ♦ To serve an attachment ♦ To serve an execution ♦ To serve an office ♦ To serve one out ♦ To serve one right ♦ To serve one the same sauce ♦ To serve one's self of ♦ To serve out ♦ To serve tables ♦ To serve the cable ♦ to serve the hour ♦ To serve the time. Additional references.

Beginning with "serve": serve-and-volley, serve-and-volleyer.

Ending with "serve": difficult-to-serve, first-come-first-serve, grill-and-serve, nifty-serve, ready-to-serve, soft-serve.

Containing "serve": ready-to-serve food.

Afrikaans

voorsit, bedien (administer the last sacraments, introduce, perform, present). (various references)

Albanian

shërbej në ushtri (soldier), shërbej (act, attend, avail, fetch and carry, lackey, lacquey, minister, nurse, oblige, wait, wait on, wait upon), vlen (go for, import), punoj (do, drive, employ, engage, go, labor, labour, operate, recruit, work), paraqes (acquaint, bring in, bring up, delineate, demonstrate, denote, develop, display, feature, front, induct, introduce, introduce oneself, obtrude, offer, portray, prefer, present, press, produce, propound, put, put in, recommend, render, represent, show, stand for, submit), jam i dobishëm, dorëzoj (cede, consign, deliver, devolve, disgorge, get through, give, give back, give over, give up, hand in, present, reach, turn over, yield). (various references)

Arabic 

‏خص (allot, apportion, belong, exhort, pertain, relate), ‏إشتغل خادما, ‏إستهل في التنس, ‏إستهلال (inception, initiation, opening, overture, prologue), ‏جامع البقر, ‏خدم الجيش, ‏خدم الزبائن, ‏أتم مدة خدمة معينة, ‏خدم في الكنيسة, ‏نفع (avail, instrumentation, profit, use, usefulness), ‏ضرب الكرة (bat, chop, drive, poach), ‏ضرب الكرة في التنس, ‏زود (accommodate, assort, button, cap, chock, cover, eke out, equip, fit, fit out, furnish, gloss, irrigate, lend, outfit, provide, purvey, rig out, set up, store, supply, tool up), ‏ساعد الكاهن, ‏قدم الطعام (board, cater, wait at table), ‏قدم خدمة (do, render, turn), ‏خدم على المائدة. (various references)

Asturian

sirvir (to serve). (various references)

Aymara

lihuaña (to serve food). (various references)

Bemba

ukutumika (to serve). (various references)

Bulgarian 

отнасям се с (handle, use), изкарвам (be through, dislodge, fare, fetch, finish, get, get through, make, oust, pass through, run off), подаване (handing over, lodgement, lodgment, pass, passing, pitch, presentation, submission), поднасям (fix, help, offer, present, serve up), ползувам (avail, be use of, benefit, employ, profit, use), послужвам (be of use, do, help), прислужвам (attend, lackey, minister), бия сервиз, благоприятствувам (advance, advantage, favour), излежавам (do), отбивам (baffle, beat back, beat off, resist, stop), услужвам (oblige), връчвам (deliver, give in, hand in, pass in, serve with), карам (auto, cart, cause, drive, get along, have, impel, keep, lead, make, move, oar, occasion, pilot, propel, render, roll along, run, sail, set, set off, start, urge on, wheel), третирам (handle, treat, use), работя (operate, perform, run, work), служа (celebrate, minister, urge), слуга съм, сервис (service), сервирам (bring, bring in, dish, help, serve out, serve up, wait at table, wait on, wait upon), увивам с канап, задоволявам (answer, cater for, content, cover, fulfil, fulfill, gratify, indulge, please, salve, satisfy, slake, suffice, suit). (various references)

Catalan

servir (accomodate, to serve). (various references)

Cebuano

mag-alagad (to serve). (various references)

Chamorro

para ma setbe (to serve). (various references)

Chinese 

服务 (Served, service, services, serving), 侍候 (wait upon). (various references)

Czech

sloužit (celebrate, take), servírovat (dish out, dish up, give), posluhovat (wait, wait on), posloužit (pleasure), pomoci (give a hand, hand out, help, help smb. down from, lend a hand, relieve, stead, to help). (various references)

Danish

tjene (earn, gain, win), servere (introduce, offer, perform, present, tender). (various references)

Dutch

voorleggen, serveren. (various references)

Ecuadorian Quechua

carana (to serve). (various references)

Esperanto

servi. (various references)

Faeroese

tæna. (various references)

Farsi 

توپ رازدن(دربازی), خدمت کردن (Minister), خدمت انجام دادن , بکاررفتن (Answer), بدردخوردن (Answer, Avail, Dow). (various references)

Finnish

palvella (attend on, to serve, wait on, worship). (various references)

French

servir (serve out), service (crockery set, section, service, serving), desservir. (various references)

Frisian

tsjinje (to serve). (various references)

German

dienen (accommodate, avail, be in service, be of help, be of service, be of use, conduce, do one's service, to conduce, to serve), bedienen (assist, attend, attend to, handle, manipulate, operate, service, to attend, to attend to, to operate, to serve, wait, wait on, waiting, work), servieren (serve up, wait, waiting), auftragen (apply, dab on, dish, dish up, instruct, lay on, make look fat, put on, to spread (out), wear out), aufschlagen (blaze up, crack, crack open, crash, cut open, erection, go up, hit, lift, lift up, open, pitch, raise, set up, slam, turn back, turn up). (various references)

Greek 

υπηρετώ (attend, lackey, minister, service, wait on). (various references)

Haitian Creole

sèvi (make use). (various references)

Hebrew 

לשמש בתפקיד (function), לשמש (attend, function, minister, officiate, play a role), לשרת (act as, fill an office, officiate, wait on), לעבוד (labor, labour, till, toil, work), כיבד (honour). (various references)

Hungarian

szolgál (to be in a place, to minister, to serve, to stead), szerválás (serving), kiszolgál (lackey, lacquey, to attend, to fag for a senior, to help, to valet, valet), felszolgál (dish up, to help, to serve, to serve at table, to serve up, to wait, to wait on tables, wait on), adogatás (service, serving), adogat, ügyel (be on duty, stage-manage, to be on the lookout, to be on the look-out, to pay attention, to see to, to take heed to do sg), ôrködik (be on duty). (various references)

Indonesian

menyajikan, menghamba, mengabdi, meladeni (attend, cater, take care of, wait on), giliran (play, seve, turn). (various references)

Inuktitut

kamaluni (to serve). (various references)

Italian

servire (answer, attend, attend to, attendant, avail, be a steady customer, be of use, boy, deal, dish, dish out, handle, help, make use, operate, servant, to serve, use, wait). (various references)

Japanese Kanji 

供 (accompanying, attendant, companion, offer, present, retinue, submit, supply), 勤 (be equal to, be fit for), ゴルフ場 (ace, circle, circlet, circlip, circuit, circuit breaker, circuit training, circular fluorescent lamp, circular skirt, circulation, circulator, circumscribe, circumscription, circus, club, Gauloise, golf course, golf links, gondola, gong, goods or services without charge, grounder, saber, sabre, sabre-toothed tiger, sardine, sardonyx, search, searcher, searchlight, serge, sergeant, servant, serve point, server, service, service area, service car, service girl, service room, service station, service yard, snap ring, sports club, support system, surcharge, surf cast, surf casting, surf rider, surf roller, surf ski, surf trolling, surfboard, surfer, surfing, surge, surveillance, survey, Surveyor, third, thirty). (various references)

Japanese Katakana 

きょう (all, and, as well as, assist, bad harvest, bad luck, both, Buddhist scriptures, coerce, co-operation, correct, disaster, entertainment, evil, exposing, Hungary, including, interest, lance, long ages, neither, offer, pleasure, plural ending, present, save, submit, supply, sutra, temporary home, this day, threat, threaten, today, together with, turmoil, wickedness, with), きん (a little, bacillus, bacterium, ban, be equal to, be fit for, bedding, cloth, germ, gold, gold general, napkin, prohibition, quilt, small quantity, unit of weight ~600g), ごん (be equal to, be fit for), サーブ . (various references</