service 1
/serr"vis/ , n., adj., v., serviced, servicing .
n.
1. an act of helpful activity; help; aid: to do someone a service.
2. the supplying or supplier of utilities or commodities, as water, electricity, or gas, required or demanded by the public.
3. the providing or a provider of accommodation and activities required by the public, as maintenance, repair, etc.: The manufacturer guarantees service and parts.
4. the organized system of apparatus, appliances, employees, etc., for supplying some accommodation required by the public: a television repair service.
5. the supplying or a supplier of public communication and transportation: telephone service; bus service.
6. the performance of duties or the duties performed as or by a waiter or servant; occupation or employment as a waiter or servant.
7. employment in any duties or work for a person, organization, government, etc.
8. a department of public employment, an administrative division of a government, or the body of public servants in it: the diplomatic service.
9. the duty or work of public servants.
10. the serving of a sovereign, state, or government in some official capacity.
11. Mil.
a. the armed forces: in the service.
b. a branch of the armed forces, as the army or navy: Which service were you in during the war?
12. Ordn. the actions required in loading and firing a cannon: service of the piece.
13. Often, services . the performance of any duties or work for another; helpful or professional activity: medical services.
14. something made or done by a commercial organization for the public benefit and without regard to direct profit: Certain books are published at a loss as a public service.
15. Also called divine service . public religious worship according to prescribed form and order.
16. a ritual or form prescribed for public worship or for some particular occasion: the marriage service.
17. the serving of God by obedience, piety, etc.: voluntary service.
18. a musical setting of the sung portions of a liturgy.
19. a set of dishes, utensils, etc., for general table use or for particular use: a tea service; service for eight.
20. See answering service .
21. Law. the serving of a process or writ upon a person.
22. Naut. tarred spun yarn or other small stuff for covering the exterior of a rope.
23. (in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.)
a. the act or manner of putting the ball or shuttlecock into play; serve.
b. the ball or shuttlecock as put into play.
24. the mating of a female animal with the male.
25. at someone's service , ready to be of help or use to someone; at one's disposal: You will have an English-speaking guide at your service.
26. be of service , to be helpful or useful: If we can be of service, do not hesitate to call.
adj.
27. of service; useful.
28. of, pertaining to, or used by servants, delivery people, etc., or in serving food: service stairs; the service pieces in a set of dishes.
29. supplying aids or services rather than products or goods: Medicine is one of the service professions.
30. supplying maintenance and repair: He operates a service center for electrical appliances.
31. of, for, or pertaining to the armed forces of a country or one of them: a service academy.
32. charged for providing service: a service fee of 15 percent on the restaurant check.
33. providing, authorizing, or guaranteeing service: a service industry; a service contract.
v.t.
34. to make fit for use; repair; restore to condition for service: to service an automobile.
35. to supply with aid, information, or other incidental services.
36. (of a male animal) to mate with (a female animal).
37. Finance. to pay off (a debt) over a period of time, as by meeting periodic interest payments.
[ bef. 1100; ME (n.) servitium servitude, equiv. to serv ( us ) slave + -itium -ICE; r. ME servise, late OE serfise ceremony servise, var. of service ]
service 2
/serr"vis/ , n.
1. a service tree, esp. Sorbus domestica.
2. the shadbush.
[ 1520-30; earlier serves, pl. of obs. serve service tree; ME; OE syrfe sorbea, deriv. of L sorbus SORB 1 ]