Definition of serve

What does the word serve mean? Find synonyms, antonyms and the meaning of the word serve in our free online dictionary! Find words starting with serve and anagrams of serve.
Lookup serve in the Scrabble Dictionary

serve - 17 definitions

- noun
1. serve -- (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play; "his powerful serves won the game"
synonyms: service
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
- verb
2. serve -- 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"
synonyms: function
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
3. serve -- 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"
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
4. serve -- contribute or conduce to; "The scandal served to increase his popularity"
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
5. service -- be used by; as of a utility; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses"
synonyms: service
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
6. serve -- help to some food; help with food or drink; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself"
synonyms: help
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
7. serve -- 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"
synonyms: serve up, dish out, dish up, dish
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
8. serve -- 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"
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
9. serve -- 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"
synonyms: serve well
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
10. serve -- spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years for embezzlement"
synonyms: do
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
11. serve -- 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"
synonyms: attend to, wait on, attend, assist
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
12. serve -- deliver a warrant or summons to someone; "He was processed by the sheriff"
synonyms: process, swear out
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
13. suffice -- 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"
synonyms: suffice, do, answer
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
14. serve -- do military service; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted"
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
15. serve -- mate with; "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes"
synonyms: service
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
16. serve -- put the ball into play; "It was Agassi's turn to serve"
Source:WordNet 3.0
 
17. serve, served -- to work for
synonyms: served, serves, unserved
Source:OWL 2 Web Ontology Language
 
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