serve
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Middle English serven < Middle French servir < Old French < Latin servire (“‘to be a slave, to serve’”) < Latin servus (“‘slave, servant’”), perhaps from Etruscan ; compare Etruscan proper names Servi, Serve.[1]
[edit] Pronunciation
- Audio (US)help, file
- Rhymes: -ɜː(r)v
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
serve (plural serves)
- (sports) the act of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play in various games
- Whose serve is it?
- (US) A portion of food, a serving
[edit] Synonyms
- (sports: act of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play): service
- (US: portion of food): See serving
[edit] Antonyms
- (sports: act of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play): receive
[edit] Translations
sports: act of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play
US: portion of food
- See serving
[edit] Verb
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Infinitive |
Third person singular |
Simple past |
Past participle |
Present participle |
to serve (third-person singular simple present serves, present participle serving, simple past and past participle served)
- To work for; to labor in behalf of; to exert one's 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.
- To be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to.
- To be suitor to; to profess love to.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 one's country.
- To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn.
- To answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a sofa serves one for a seat and a couch.
- To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill.
- To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns.
- To bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually or constructively, in such manner as the law requires; as, to serve a summons.
- To make legal service opon (a person named in a writ, summons, etc.); as, to serve a witness with a subpoena.
- 2008 Colloff, Pamela, The Fire That Time, Texas Monthly; Austin: Emmis Publishing, April 2008, p158:
- On the morning of February 28, 1993, ATF agents gathered at a staging area near Waco and prepared to serve a search warrant on the Branch Davidians' residence.
- 2008 Colloff, Pamela, The Fire That Time, Texas Monthly; Austin: Emmis Publishing, April 2008, p158:
- To pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as, to serve a term in prison.
- To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; -- said of the male.
- (tennis) To lead off in delivering (the ball).
- 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.
- 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.
- To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with household affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc.
- 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.
- To be of use; to answer a purpose; to suffice; to suit; to be convenient or favorable.
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
to work for
to attend, supply the wants of
to contribute, promote
to answer or be (in the place of something) to
to treat; to behave one's self to
to work; to operate; as, to serve the guns
to bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually or constructively
to make legal service
to wind spun yarn
to perform domestic offices
to be in service
to be of use
[edit] References
- Notes:
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] French
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Verb form
serve
- first-, third-person singular subjunctive present of servir
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] Italian
[edit] Noun
serve f.
- Plural form of serva.
[edit] Verb
serve
[edit] Latin
[edit] Noun
serve m.
- vocative singular of servus
