| serve | | |
| n. (act) | 1. serve, service | (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play.; "his powerful serves won the game" |
| ~ squash rackets, squash racquets, squash | a game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with long-handled rackets. |
| ~ badminton | a game played on a court with light long-handled rackets used to volley a shuttlecock over a net. |
| ~ 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. |
| ~ tennis shot, tennis stroke | the act of hitting a tennis ball with a tennis racket. |
| ~ ace | a serve that the receiver is unable to reach. |
| ~ fault | (sports) a serve that is illegal (e.g., that lands outside the prescribed area).; "he served too many double faults" |
| ~ net ball, let | a serve that strikes the net before falling into the receiver's court; the ball must be served again. |
| v. (stative) | 2. function, 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" |
| ~ service, serve | be used by; as of a utility.; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses" |
| ~ suffice, answer, do, serve | 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" |
| ~ prelude | serve as a prelude or opening to. |
| ~ act as | function as or act like.; "This heap of stones will act as a barrier" |
| v. (competition) | 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" |
| ~ sit | serve in a specific professional capacity.; "the priest sat for confession"; "she sat on the jury" |
| ~ staff | serve on the staff of.; "The two men staff the reception desk" |
| ~ act | discharge one's duties.; "She acts as the chair"; "In what capacity are you acting?" |
| ~ rotate | perform a job or duty on a rotating basis.; "Interns have to rotate for a few months" |
| ~ officiate, function | perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function.; "His wife officiated as his private secretary" |
| ~ caddie, caddy | act as a caddie and carry clubs for a player. |
| ~ do work, work | be employed.; "Is your husband working again?"; "My wife never worked"; "Do you want to work after the age of 60?"; "She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money"; "She works as a waitress to put herself through college" |
| ~ serve | do military service.; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted" |
| ~ 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.; "I represent the silent majority" |
| v. (stative) | 4. serve | contribute or conduce to.; "The scandal served to increase his popularity" |
| ~ effect, effectuate, set up | produce.; "The scientists set up a shock wave" |
| ~ serve well, 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" |
| ~ facilitate, help | be of use.; "This will help to prevent accidents" |
| v. (social) | 5. serve, service | be used by; as of a utility.; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses" |
| ~ function, operate, work, run, go | perform as expected when applied.; "The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in"; "Does this old car still run well?"; "This old radio doesn't work anymore" |
| ~ serve, function | 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" |
| v. (consumption) | 6. help, serve | help to some food; help with food or drink.; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself" |
| ~ dish, dish up, serve up, dish out, 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" |
| ~ cater, ply, provide, supply | give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance.; "The hostess provided lunch for all the guests" |
| v. (consumption) | 7. dish, dish out, dish up, serve, serve up | 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" |
| ~ plank | cook and serve on a plank.; "Planked vegetable"; "Planked shad" |
| ~ help, serve | help to some food; help with food or drink.; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself" |
| ~ cater, ply, provide, supply | give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance.; "The hostess provided lunch for all the guests" |
| v. (social) | 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" |
| ~ work | exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity.; "I will work hard to improve my grades"; "she worked hard for better living conditions for the poor" |
| ~ wait on, attend to, assist, attend, 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" |
| v. (stative) | 9. serve, serve well | 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" |
| ~ nurture, foster | help develop, help grow.; "nurture his talents" |
| ~ serve | contribute or conduce to.; "The scandal served to increase his popularity" |
| v. (stative) | 10. do, serve | spend time in prison or in a labor camp.; "He did six years for embezzlement" |
| ~ admit | serve as a means of entrance.; "This ticket will admit one adult to the show" |
| ~ spend, pass | pass time in a specific way.; "how are you spending your summer vacation?" |
| v. (social) | 11. assist, attend, attend to, serve, wait on | 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" |
| ~ valet | serve as a personal attendant to. |
| ~ aid, assist, help | give help or assistance; be of service.; "Everyone helped out during the earthquake"; "Can you help me carry this table?"; "She never helps around the house" |
| ~ fag | act as a servant for older boys, in British public schools. |
| ~ 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" |
| v. (contact) | 12. process, serve, swear out | deliver a warrant or summons to someone.; "He was processed by the sheriff" |
| ~ subpoena | serve or summon with a subpoena.; "The witness and her records were subpoenaed" |
| ~ wash, rinse | clean with some chemical process. |
| ~ deliver | bring to a destination, make a delivery.; "our local super market delivers" |
| v. (stative) | 13. answer, do, serve, 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" |
| ~ bridge over, tide over, keep going | suffice for a period between two points.; "This money will keep us going for another year" |
| ~ go a long way | suffice or be adequate for a while or to a certain extent. |
| ~ serve, function | 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" |
| ~ live up to, satisfy, fulfill, fulfil | meet the requirements or expectations of. |
| ~ measure up, qualify | prove capable or fit; meet requirements. |
| ~ go around | be sufficient.; "There's not enough to go around" |
| v. (social) | 14. serve | do military service.; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted" |
| ~ 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" |
| ~ do work, work | be employed.; "Is your husband working again?"; "My wife never worked"; "Do you want to work after the age of 60?"; "She never did any work because she inherited a lot of money"; "She works as a waitress to put herself through college" |
| v. (contact) | 15. serve, service | mate with.; "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes" |
| ~ stand | be available for stud services.; "male domestic animals such as stallions serve selected females" |
| ~ copulate, mate, couple, pair | engage in sexual intercourse.; "Birds mate in the Spring" |
| v. (competition) | 16. serve | put the ball into play.; "It was Agassi's turn to serve" |
| ~ court game | an athletic game played on a court. |
| ~ move, go | have a turn; make one's move in a game.; "Can I go now?" |
| ~ ace | serve an ace against (someone). |
| servant | | |
| n. (person) | 1. retainer, servant | a person working in the service of another (especially in the household). |
| ~ worker | a person who works at a specific occupation.; "he is a good worker" |
| ~ body servant | a valet or personal maid. |
| ~ cabin boy | a young man acting as a servant on a ship. |
| ~ domestic, domestic help, house servant | a servant who is paid to perform menial tasks around the household. |
| ~ factotum | a servant employed to do a variety of jobs. |
| ~ familiar | a person attached to the household of a high official (as a pope or bishop) who renders service in return for support. |
| ~ flunkey, flunky, lackey | a male servant (especially a footman). |
| ~ major-domo, seneschal | the chief steward or butler of a great household. |
| ~ manservant | a man servant. |
| ~ menial | a domestic servant. |
| ~ scullion | a kitchen servant employed to do menial tasks (especially washing). |
| ~ servant girl, serving girl | a girl who is a servant. |
| n. (state) | 2. handmaid, handmaiden, servant | in a subordinate position.; "theology should be the handmaiden of ethics"; "the state cannot be a servant of the church" |
| ~ subordinateness, subsidiarity | secondary importance. |
| serve | | |
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