Noun
- 1. serve, service, tennis stroke, tennis shot
- usage: (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play; "his powerful serves won the game"
Verb
- 1. serve, function, suffice, do, answer, serve
- usage: 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"
- 2. serve, work, do work
- usage: 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. serve, effect, effectuate, set up
- usage: contribute or conduce to; "The scandal served to increase his popularity"
- 4. service, serve, function, work, operate, go, run
- usage: be used by; as of a utility; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses"
- 5. serve, help, provide, supply, ply, cater
- usage: help to some food; help with food or drink; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself"
- 6. serve, serve up, dish out, dish up, dish, provide, supply, ply, cater
- usage: 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"
- 7. serve, work
- usage: 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. serve, serve well, foster, nurture
- usage: 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"
- 9. serve, do, spend, pass
- usage: spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years for embezzlement"
- 10. serve, attend to, wait on, attend, assist, help, assist, aid
- usage: 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"
- 11. serve, process, swear out, deliver
- usage: deliver a warrant or summons to someone; "He was processed by the sheriff"
- 12. suffice, do, answer, serve, satisfy, fulfill, fulfil, live up to
- usage: 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"
- 13. serve, work, do work
- usage: do military service; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted"
- 14. serve, service, copulate, mate, pair, couple
- usage: mate with; "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes"
- 15. serve, move, go
- usage: put the ball into play; "It was Agassi's turn to serve"
WordNet 3.0 Copyright © 2006 by Princeton University.
All rights reserved.Definition and meaning of serve (Dictionary)