v.
- perform duties or services for.
▸be employed as a member of the armed forces.
▸spend (a period) in office, in an apprenticeship, or in prison.
- present food or drink to (someone).
▸(of food or drink) be enough for.
▸attend to (a customer in a shop).
▸Christian Church act as a server at the celebration of the Eucharist.
- Law formally deliver (a summons or writ) to the person to whom it is addressed.
- be of use in achieving something or fulfilling a purpose.
▸treat in a specified way.
▸(of a male breeding animal) copulate with (a female).
- (in tennis and other racket sports) hit the ball or shuttlecock to begin play for each point of a game.
▸
(serve out)
Tennis win the final game of a set or match while serving.
- Nautical bind (a rope) with thin cord to protect or strengthen it.
- Military operate (a gun).
- archaic play (a trick) on.
n.
- an act of serving in tennis, badminton, etc.
- Austral. informal a reprimand.
Phrase
- serve someone right
be someone's deserved punishment or misfortune. - serve one's
(or its)
turn
be useful or helpful.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. servir, from L. servire, from servus ‘slave’.