[ser.vice] n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L servitium condition of a slave, body of slaves, fr. servus slave] (13c) 1 a: the occupation or function of serving "in active ~" b: employment as a servant "entered his ~"
2. a: the work performed by one that serves "good ~" b: help, use, benefit "glad to be of ~" c: contribution to the welfare of others d: disposal for use "I'm entirely at your ~" 3 a: a form followed in worship or in a religious ceremony "the burial ~" b: a meeting for worship--often used in pl. "held evening ~s"
4: the act of serving: as a: a helpful act "did him a ~" b: useful labor that does not produce a tangible commodity--usu. used in pl. "charge for professional ~s" c: serve
5: a set of articles for a particular use "a silver tea ~"
6. a: an administrative division (as of a government or business) "the consular ~" b: one of a nation's military forces (as the army or navy)
7. a: a facility supplying some public demand "telephone ~" "bus ~" b: a facility providing maintenance and repair "television ~" 8: the materials (as spun yarn, small lines, or canvas) used for serving a rope 9: the act of bringing a legal writ, process, or summons to notice as prescribed by law 10: the act of copulating with a female animal 11: a branch of a hospital medical staff devoted to a particular specialty "obstetrical ~"
[2]service vt ser.viced ; ser.vic.ing (1528): to perform services for: as a: to repair or provide maintenance for 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 d of a male animal: serve
10. -- ser.vic.er n [3]service adj (1837) 1: of or relating to the armed services
2: used in serving or supplying "delivery men use the ~ entrance"
3: intended for hard or everyday use
4. a: providing services "the ~ trades--from filling stations to universities --John Fischer" b: offering repair, maintenance, or incidental services [4]ser.vice n [ME serves, pl. of serve fruit of the service tree, service tree, fr. OE syrfe, fr. (assumed) VL sorbea, fr. L sorbus service tree] (1530): an Old World tree (Sorbus domestica) resembling the related mountain ashes but having larger flowers and larger edible fruit; also: a related Old World tree (S. torminalis) with bitter fruits