I. ˈsərvə̇s, ˈsə̄v-, ˈsəiv- dial ˈsärv- or ˈsȧv- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English servise, service, from Old French, from Latin servitium condition of a slave, servitude, body of slaves or servants, from servus slave + -itium -ice — more at serve
1. : the condition or occupation of a servant : the serving of a master: as
a. : the position of a domestic servant
the daughters of yeoman and peasant alike could take service with the wife of a squire who had known them all their lives — Roy Lewis & Angus Maude
b. : the domestic employment of a particular master
entered the service of a wealthy townsman
2. : the performance of work commanded or paid for by another : a servant's duty : attendance on a superior
most true, I have lost my teeth in your service — Shakespeare
3.
a. : the employment of a public servant
distinguished himself in his country's service
b. : a specified branch or department of government employment or the staff of persons working in it
consular service
intelligence service
c. : the duties, work, or business performed or discharged by a government official
4.
a. : one of a nation's organized fighting forces (as the army, navy, or air force)
b. : the performance of military duty especially in war : combat
saw active service in several campaigns
c. : a particular military operation : campaign , engagement , expedition
d. : the profession or career of arms : the occupation of a soldier, sailor, or military flier
5.
a. : an act done for the benefit or at the command of another
impose some service on me for thy love — Shakespeare
felt that to avenge his friend's death was the only service he could still do him
b. : the constancy, attentions, or devotion of a lover for his lady
6.
a. : the habit or practice of serving God or the acts done with that intention
devoted himself altogether to the service of God
b. : a form or ritual of worship (as public worship) established for customary use, celebration, or observance
c. : the performance of religious worship especially according to settled public forms or conventions
d. : an assembly or meeting for worship
e. : rites (as religious rites) appropriate to a particular event
a burial service
a marriage service
f. : a liturgical office set to music : a set of such settings especially of the choral canticles and chants
7.
a. : the bringing of food and drink to diners seated at table : the work or activity of waiting at table
it was a small place but the service was excellent
b.
(1) : the food and drink apportioned to one person
(2) obsolete : course
c. : the dishes, implements, or utensils needed to serve a meal, a specified number of persons, or a particular food or drink
purchased a silver service for 12
d. : a set of vessels used at the altar in celebrating communion
the silver Eucharistic service … was saved by being hidden in a cistern — American Guide Series: Louisiana
e. : a set of implements and vessels for use in the toilet : dresser set
8. : the return in money, in kind, or in labor owed by a feudal tenant to his lord for the enjoyment of his tenancy : render
9.
a. : action or use that furthers some end or purpose : conduct or performance that assists or benefits someone or something : deeds useful or instrumental toward some object
the pioneer-baiters do the country a service — Russell Lord
did me a valuable service
b. : professional or other useful ministrations
legal services
a bill collection service
c. : supply of needs
a vending machine set up for the service of casual passersby
also : utility
10. archaic : a profession of respect or duty — used in various expressions of courtesy (as in greetings or in toasts)
11. : the act of putting the ball in play in any of various net or court games (as tennis)
12. : an act of administering or applying something
13. : the wrapping or covering of a rope (as with spun yarn, small lines, or canvas) to prevent chafing ; also : the materials used for this purpose
14.
a. : useful labor that does not produce a tangible commodity — usually used in plural
railroads, telephone companies, and physicians perform services although they produce no goods
b. : debt service
c. : a facility or provision for maintenance and repair (as of houses or manufactured articles)
property service
radio and television service
automobile repair service
d. : the provision, organization, or apparatus for conducting a public utility or meeting a general demand
telephone service
air freight service
15.
a. : the act of bringing a legal writ, process, or summons to notice actually or constructively as prescribed by law
accepted service of a subpoena
b. : the carrying into effect or execution of a writ or process (as an attachment by seizing the goods or person attached or an execution by levying it upon the goods or person of the defendant) — compare personal service 1, substituted service
16. : the act of serving or covering the female — used of a male animal
17. : a regularly scheduled trip over a public transportation route
three airline services daily between island and mainland
18. : a branch of a hospital medical staff devoted to a particular specialty
obstetric service
pediatric service
19.
a. : a pipe branching from a gas or water main to serve the premises of a user
b. : the lead-in conductors from an electric power or telephone line to a user's premises
20. : effort inspired by philanthropic motives or directed to human welfare or betterment
Synonyms: see use
•
- at one's service
- of service
II. adjective
1.
a. : of or relating to the armed services or one of them : belonging to or used in the army, navy, or air force
a service newspaper
b. : of, relating to, or constituting a branch of an army (as an ordinance department) that exists to serve or supply the army's fighting men
2. : of or relating to domestic service : used in serving or by servants
a service hatch
3. : worn in or intended for everyday use : durable
service -weight stockings
4.
a. : providing services rather than tangible goods
transportation and entertainment are service industries
b. : offering a product useful only in making another product or in performing associated tasks or services
diemakers and allied service industries — New Englander
c. : offering repair, maintenance, or incidental services
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to perform services for : meet the needs of : serve: as
a. : to repair or provide maintenance for
I've had some dealings with them in the servicing of my English car — Richard Joseph
b. : to meet interest and sinking fund payments on (as government debt)
c. : to perform any of the business functions auxiliary to production or distribution of
the accounting department services the manufacturing and sales programs
d. : to provide information or other assistance to
for many years the Department of State has serviced the press and the scholars interested in foreign affairs — F.H.Russell
e. : to provide (a philatelic cover) with first-day cancellation or cachet
f. : to copulate with (a female animal)
deer are polygamous and one buck may claim and service several does — Lyle St. Amant & Carrol Perkins
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English serves, plural of serve service tree, fruit of the service, from Old English syrfe, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin sorbea, from Latin sorbus service tree, sorb tree
1. : service tree 1
2. : the fruit of a service tree