I. ˈsərv verb
( served ; serv·ing )
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French servir, from Latin servire to be a slave, serve, from servus slave, servant
Date: 13th century
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to be a servant
b. : to do military or naval service
2. : to assist a celebrant as server at mass
3.
a. : to be of use
in a day when few people could write, seals served as signatures — Elizabeth W. King
b. : to be favorable, opportune, or convenient
c. : to be worthy of reliance or trust
if memory serve s
d. : to hold an office : discharge a duty or function
serve on a jury
4. : to prove adequate or satisfactory : suffice
it will serve for this task
5. : to help persons to food: as
a. : to wait at table
b. : to set out portions of food or drink
6. : to wait on customers
7. : to put the ball or shuttlecock in play in various games (as tennis, volleyball, or badminton)
transitive verb
1.
a. : to be a servant to : attend
b. : to give the service and respect due to (a superior)
c. : to comply with the commands or demands of : gratify
d. : to give military or naval service to
e. : to perform the duties of (an office or post)
2. : to act as server at (mass)
3. archaic : to pay a lover's or suitor's court to (a lady)
that gentle lady, whom I love and serve — Edmund Spenser
4.
a. : to work through (a term of service)
b. : to put in (a term of imprisonment)
5.
a. : to wait on at table
b. : to bring (food) to a diner
c. : present , provide — usually used with up
the novel served up many laughs
6.
a. : to furnish or supply with something needed or desired
b. : to wait on (a customer) in a store
c. : to furnish professional service to
7.
a. : to answer the needs of
b. : to be enough for : suffice
c. : to contribute or conduce to : promote
8. : to treat or act toward in a specified way
he served me ill
9.
a. : to bring to notice, deliver, or execute as required by law
b. : to make legal service upon (a person named in a process)
10. of a male animal : to copulate with
11. : to wind yarn or wire tightly around (a rope or stay) for protection
12. : to provide services that benefit or help
13. : to put (the ball or shuttlecock) in play (as in tennis or badminton)
•
- serve one right
II. noun
Date: 1688
: the act or action of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play in various games (as volleyball, badminton, or tennis) ; also : a turn to serve
it's your serve