meaning of serve
1. To work for; to labor in behalf of; to exert ones self continuously or statedly for the benefit of; to do service for; to be in the employment of, as an inferior, domestic, serf, slave, hired assistant, official helper, etc. ; specifically, in a religious sense, to obey and worship.
2. To be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to.
3. To be suitor to; to profess love to.
4. To wait upon; to supply the wants of; to attend; specifically, to wait upon at table; to attend at meals; to supply with food; as, to serve customers in a shop.
5. Hence, to bring forward, arrange, deal, or distribute, as a portion of anything, especially of food prepared for eating; -- often with up; formerly with in.
6. To perform the duties belonging to, or required in or for; hence, to be of use to; as, a curate may serve two churches; to serve ones country.
7. To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient for; to satisfy; as, to serve ones turn.
8. To answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a sofa serves one for a seat and a couch.
9. To treat; to behave ones self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill.
10. To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns.
11. To bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually or constructively, in such manner as the law requires; as, to serve a summons.
12. To make legal service opon (a person named in a writ, summons, etc. ); as, to serve a witness with a subp/na.
13. To pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as, to serve a term in prison.
14. To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; -- said of the male.
15. To lead off in delivering (the ball).
16. To wind spun yarn, or the like, tightly around (a rope or cable, etc. ) so as to protect it from chafing or from the weather. See under Serving.
17. To be a servant or a slave; to be employed in labor or other business for another; to be in subjection or bondage; to render menial service.
18. To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with household affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc.
19. To be in service; to do duty; to discharge the requirements of an office or employment. Specifically, to act in the public service, as a soldier, seaman. etc.
20. To be of use; to answer a purpose; to suffice; to suit; to be convenient or favorable.
21. To lead off in delivering the ball.
22. sports a stroke that puts the ball in play; "his powerful serves won the
">game"
Related Words
serve | serve up | serve well | served | server |
