Search Result for "serve": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

1. (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play;
- Example: "his powerful serves won the game"
[syn: serve, service]


VERB (15)

1. serve a purpose, role, or function;
- Example: "The tree stump serves as a table"
- Example: "The female students served as a control group"
- Example: "This table would serve very well"
- Example: "His freedom served him well"
- Example: "The table functions as a desk"
[syn: serve, function]

2. do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function;
- Example: "He served as head of the department for three years"
- Example: "She served in Congress for two terms"

3. contribute or conduce to;
- Example: "The scandal served to increase his popularity"

4. be used by; as of a utility;
- Example: "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"
- Example: "The garage served to shelter his horses"
[syn: service, serve]

5. help to some food; help with food or drink;
- Example: "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself"
[syn: serve, help]

6. provide (usually but not necessarily food);
- Example: "We serve meals for the homeless"
- Example: "She dished out the soup at 8 P.M."
- Example: "The entertainers served up a lively show"
[syn: serve, serve up, dish out, dish up, dish]

7. devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas;
- Example: "She served the art of music"
- Example: "He served the church"
- Example: "serve the country"

8. promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to;
- Example: "Art serves commerce"
- Example: "Their interests are served"
- Example: "The lake serves recreation"
- Example: "The President's wisdom has served the country well"
[syn: serve, serve well]

9. spend time in prison or in a labor camp;
- Example: "He did six years for embezzlement"
[syn: serve, do]

10. work for or be a servant to;
- Example: "May I serve you?"
- Example: "She attends the old lady in the wheelchair"
- Example: "Can you wait on our table, please?"
- Example: "Is a salesperson assisting you?"
- Example: "The minister served the King for many years"
[syn: serve, attend to, wait on, attend, assist]

11. deliver a warrant or summons to someone;
- Example: "He was processed by the sheriff"
[syn: serve, process, swear out]

12. be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity;
- Example: "A few words would answer"
- Example: "This car suits my purpose well"
- Example: "Will $100 do?"
- Example: "A 'B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school"
- Example: "Nothing else will serve"
[syn: suffice, do, answer, serve]

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

14. mate with;
- Example: "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes"
[syn: serve, service]

15. put the ball into play;
- Example: "It was Agassi's turn to serve"


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Serve \Serve\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Served; p. pr. & vb. n. Serving.] [OE. serven, servien, OF. & F. servir, fr. L. servire; akin to servus a servant or slave, servare to protect, preserve, observe; cf. Zend har to protect, haurva protecting. Cf. Conserve, Desert merit, Dessert, Observe, Serf, Sergeant.] 1. 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. [1913 Webster] God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit. --Rom. i. 9. [1913 Webster] Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. --Gen. xxix. 18. [1913 Webster] No man can serve two masters. --Matt. vi. 24. [1913 Webster] Had I but served my God with half the zeal I served my king, he would not in mine age Have left me naked to mine enemies. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to. [1913 Webster] Bodies bright and greater should not serve The less not bright. --Milton. [1913 Webster] 3. To be suitor to; to profess love to. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] To serve a lady in his beste wise. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] Others, pampered in their shameless pride, Are served in plate and in their chariots ride. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] 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. [1913 Webster] Bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner. --Shak. [1913 Webster] Some part he roasts, then serves it up so dressed. --Dryde. [1913 Webster] 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 one's country. [1913 Webster] 7. To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn. [1913 Webster] Turn it into some advantage, by observing where it can serve another end. --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster] 8. To answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a sofa serves one for a seat and a couch. [1913 Webster] 9. To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill. [1913 Webster] 10. To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns. [1913 Webster] 11. (Law) (a) To bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually or constructively, in such manner as the law requires; as, to serve a summons. (b) To make legal service opon (a person named in a writ, summons, etc.); as, to serve a witness with a subp[oe]na. [1913 Webster] 12. To pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as, to serve a term in prison. [1913 Webster] 13. To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; -- said of the male. [1913 Webster] 14. (Tennis) To lead off in delivering (the ball). [1913 Webster] 15. (Naut.) 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. [1913 Webster] To serve an attachment or To serve a writ of attachment (Law), to levy it on the person or goods by seizure, or to seize. To serve an execution (Law), to levy it on a lands, goods, or person, by seizure or taking possession. To serve an office, to discharge a public duty. To serve a process (Law), in general, to read it, so as to give due notice to the party concerned, or to leave an attested copy with him or his attorney, or his usual place of abode. To serve a warrant, to read it, and seize the person against whom it is issued. To serve a writ (Law), to read it to the defendant, or to leave an attested copy at his usual place of abode. To serve one out, to retaliate upon; to requite. "I'll serve you out for this." --C. Kingsley. To serve one right, to treat, or cause to befall one, according to his deserts; -- used commonly of ill deserts; as, it serves the scoundrel right. To serve one's self of, to avail one's self of; to make use of. [A Gallicism] [1913 Webster] I will serve myself of this concession. --Chillingworth. [1913 Webster] To serve out, to distribute; as, to serve out rations. To serve the time or To serve the hour, to regulate one's actions by the requirements of the time instead of by one's duty; to be a timeserver. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] They think herein we serve the time, because thereby we either hold or seek preferment. --Hooker. [1913 Webster] Syn: To obey; minister to; subserve; promote; aid; help; assist; benefit; succor. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Serve \Serve\, v. i. 1. 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. [1913 Webster] The Lord shall give thee rest . . . from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve. --Isa. xiv. 3. [1913 Webster] 2. To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with household affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc. [1913 Webster] But Martha . . . said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? --Luke x. 40. [1913 Webster] 3. 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. [1913 Webster] Many . . . who had before been great commanders, but now served as private gentlemen without pay. --Knolles. [1913 Webster] 4. To be of use; to answer a purpose; to suffice; to suit; to be convenient or favorable. [1913 Webster] This little brand will serve to light your fire. --Dryden. [1913 Webster] As occasion serves, this noble queen And prince shall follow with a fresh supply. --Shak. [1913 Webster] 5. (Tennis) To lead off in delivering the ball. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

serve n 1: (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play; "his powerful serves won the game" [syn: serve, service] v 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" [syn: serve, function] 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" [syn: service, serve] 5: help to some food; help with food or drink; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself" [syn: serve, help] 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" [syn: serve, serve up, dish out, dish up, dish] 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 country well" [syn: serve, serve well] 9: spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years for embezzlement" [syn: serve, do] 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" [syn: serve, attend to, wait on, attend, assist] 11: deliver a warrant or summons to someone; "He was processed by the sheriff" [syn: serve, process, swear out] 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" [syn: suffice, do, answer, 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" [syn: serve, service] 15: put the ball into play; "It was Agassi's turn to serve"
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

319 Moby Thesaurus words for "serve": accommodate, accord, act, act as, act for, administer, administer to, advance, advantage, afford, allot, allow, answer, answer for, assist, attend, attend on, attend to, avail, award, ball, be OK, be correct, be equal to, be found wanting, be handy, be inferior, be instrumental, be intimate, be of use, be right, bear, bear arms, befit, befitting, behave, bend to, benefit, bestead, bestow, bestow on, bias, bid come, bowl, break no bones, call, call away, call back, call for, call forth, call in, call out, call together, call up, care for, carry arms, cast, catapult, cater to, change of pace, change-up, chore, chuck, chunk, cite, cohabit, come short, come together, commit adultery, communicate, complete, conduce, confer, conjure, conjure up, contribute, convene, convoke, copulate, couple, cover, curve, dance attendance upon, dart, dash, deal, deal out, demand, diddle, dish out, dish up, dispense, dispose, distribute, do, do active duty, do duty, do for, do good, do it, do no harm, do service to, do the job, do the trick, dole, dole out, donate, downcurve, drudge, endure, evoke, extend, facilitate, fail, fall short, fastball, favor, fight for, fill the bill, fire, fit, fling, flip, follow, fork, fork out, fornicate, forward, forward pass, frig, fulfill, function, function as, get by, gift, gift with, give, give freely, give good returns, give out, go, go around, go between, go through, grant, gratify, hack it, hand out, have a tendency, have nothing on, have sex, have sexual relations, head, heap, heave, help, help to, hold, hurl, hurtle, impart, incline, incurve, indent, invoke, issue, jerk, just do, knuckleball, lackey, lance, last, lateral, lateral pass, launch, lavish, lay, lead, lean, let fly, let have, lie with, lob, look after, look to, maid, make, make available, make it with, make love, make out, make the grade, mate, mediate, meet, meet requirements, mete, mete out, minister to, mount, move, muster, muster up, not approach, not come amiss, not come near, not compare, not fail, not hack it, not make it, not measure up, oblige, offer, officiate, operate, order up, outcurve, page, pander to, pass, pass muster, pay, pay off, peg, pelt, perform as, pitch, pitchfork, play, play second fiddle, point, point to, pour, practice, preconize, present, proceed, proffer, profit, promote, provide, put, put the shot, qualify, rain, rank under, reach, recall, redound to, relate, render, requisition, satisfy, screw, screwball, send after, send for, serve the purpose, service, set, set out, set toward, shell out, shot-put, shoulder a gun, shoulder arms, show a tendency, shower, shy, sinker, sleep with, slider, sling, slip, snap, snow, soldier, spend, spitball, spitter, stand, stand up, stretch, subpoena, subserve, suffice, suit, suit the occasion, summon, summon forth, summon up, summons, supply, survive, take care of, take it, tend, tender, throw, tilt, toss, trend, turn, upcurve, upon, use, valet, verge, vouchsafe, wait, wait on, want, warp, wear the uniform, work, work for, work toward, yield, yield a profit
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

serve To be a server, to provide a service. E.g., "The shttpd serves requested documents to clients over a secure link." (1997-09-11)