SERVE

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does serve mean? 

• SERVE (noun)
  The noun SERVE has 1 sense:

1. (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play

  Familiarity information: SERVE used as a noun is very rare.

• SERVE (verb)
  The verb SERVE has 15 senses:

1. serve a purpose, role, or function

2. do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function

3. contribute or conduce to

4. be used by; as of a utility

5. help to some food; help with food or drink

6. provide (usually but not necessarily food)

7. devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas

8. promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to

9. spend time in prison or in a labor camp

10. work for or be a servant to

11. deliver a warrant or summons to someone

12. be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity

13. do military service

14. mate with

15. put the ball into play

  Familiarity information: SERVE used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SERVE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

serve; service

Context example:

his powerful serves won the game

Hypernyms ("serve" is a kind of...):

tennis shot; tennis stroke (the act of hitting a tennis ball with a tennis racket)

Domain category:

badminton (a game played on a court with light long-handled rackets used to volley a shuttlecock over a net)

squash; squash rackets; squash racquets (a game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with long-handled rackets)

lawn tennis; tennis (a game played with rackets by two or four players who hit a ball back and forth over a net that divides the court)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "serve"):

fault ((sports) a serve that is illegal (e.g., that lands outside the prescribed area))

let; net ball (a serve that strikes the net before falling into the receiver's court; the ball must be served again)

ace (a serve that the receiver is unable to reach)

Derivation:

serve (put the ball into play)

• SERVE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Serve a purpose, role, or function

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

function; serve

Context example:

The table functions as a desk

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

answer; do; serve; suffice (be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity)

Verb group:

serve; service (be used by; as of a utility)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

prelude (serve as a prelude or opening to)

act as (function as or act like)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

She served in Congress for two terms

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

do work; work (be employed)

Verb group:

serve (do military service)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

sit (serve in a specific professional capacity)

staff (serve on the staff of)

act (discharge one's duties)

rotate (perform a job or duty on a rotating basis)

function; officiate (perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function)

caddie; caddy (act as a caddie and carry clubs for a player)

represent (be a delegate or spokesperson for; represent somebody's interest or be a proxy or substitute for, as of politicians and office holders representing their constituents, or of a tenant representing other tenants in a housing dispute)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Contribute or conduce to

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

The scandal served to increase his popularity

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

effect; effectuate; set up (produce)

Verb group:

serve; serve well (promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

facilitate; help (be of use)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sense 4

Meaning:

Be used by; as of a utility

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

serve; service

Context example:

The garage served to shelter his horses

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

function; go; operate; run; work (perform as expected when applied)

Verb group:

function; serve (serve a purpose, role, or function)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sense 5

Meaning:

Help to some food; help with food or drink

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

help; serve

Context example:

I served him three times, and after that he helped himself

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

cater; ply; provide; supply (give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance)

Verb group:

dish; dish out; dish up; serve; serve up (provide (usually but not necessarily food))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot serve Sue

Derivation:

server (utensil used in serving food or drink)

server (a person whose occupation is to serve at table (as in a restaurant))

serving (an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Provide (usually but not necessarily food)

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

dish; dish out; dish up; serve; serve up

Context example:

The entertainers served up a lively show

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

cater; ply; provide; supply (give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance)

Verb group:

help; serve (help to some food; help with food or drink)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

plank (cook and serve on a plank)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

The chefs serve the vegetables

Sense 7

Meaning:

Devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

serve the country

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

work (exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity)

Verb group:

assist; attend; attend to; serve; wait on (work for or be a servant to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 8

Meaning:

Promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

serve; serve well

Context example:

The President's wisdom has served the country well

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

foster; nurture (help develop, help grow)

Verb group:

serve (contribute or conduce to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

servant (in a subordinate position)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Spend time in prison or in a labor camp

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

do; serve

Context example:

He did six years for embezzlement

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

pass; spend (use up a period of time in a specific way)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

admit (serve as a means of entrance)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 10

Meaning:

Work for or be a servant to

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

assist; attend; attend to; serve; wait on

Context example:

The minister served the King for many years

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

aid; assist; help (give help or assistance; be of service)

Verb group:

serve (devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

valet (serve as a personal attendant to)

fag (act as a servant for older boys, in British public schools)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody with something

Sentence example:

Sam cannot serve Sue

Derivation:

servant (a person working in the service of another (especially in the household))

servitor (someone who performs the duties of an attendant for someone else)

Sense 11

Meaning:

Deliver a warrant or summons to someone

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

process; serve; swear out

Context example:

He was processed by the sheriff

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

deliver (bring to a destination, make a delivery)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

subpoena (serve or summon with a subpoena)

rinse; wash (clean with some chemical process)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody with something

Sense 12

Meaning:

Be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

answer; do; serve; suffice

Context example:

Nothing else will serve

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

fulfil; fulfill; live up to; satisfy (meet the requirements or expectations of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

bridge over; keep going; tide over (suffice for a period between two points)

go a long way (suffice or be adequate for a while or to a certain extent)

function; serve (serve a purpose, role, or function)

measure up; qualify (prove capable or fit; meet requirements)

go around (be sufficient)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 13

Meaning:

Do military service

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

My sons never served, because they are short-sighted

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

do work; work (be employed)

Verb group:

serve (do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 14

Meaning:

Mate with

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

serve; service

Context example:

male animals serve the females for breeding purposes

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

copulate; couple; mate; pair (engage in sexual intercourse)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

stand (be available for stud services)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 15

Meaning:

Put the ball into play

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

It was Agassi's turn to serve

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

go; move (have a turn; make one's move in a game)

Domain category:

court game (an athletic game played on a court)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

ace (serve an ace against (someone))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

serve ((sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play)

server ((court games) the player who serves to start a point)

 Context examples 

If my memory serves me, you once thought it your duty to make a rich match.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

You can see for yourselves how they serve me.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

While she was making the most of it, her master came and cried: “Hurry up, Gretel, the guest is coming directly after me!” “Yes, sir, I will soon serve up,” answered Gretel.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

“This will have to serve till a better one comes.”

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The coffin, at the side of the fire, served for seat and table.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

At six o’clock, when I served supper, going on deck to get the food from the galley, I saw Harrison, still in the same position.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He would bide with him for a time and do what he might to serve him.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The many books he read but served to whet his unrest.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I will write again as the occasion serves.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Whether you work for others or for yourself, you might be serving an international market.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)