SERVE

v. 1 attend (to), wait on or upon, minister to, look after (the needs of), be at (someone's) beck and call, assist, help, be of assistance or help, be in the service of, oblige, accommodate, gratify After a patron is seated and settled, approach him and ask, 'May I serve you, Sir (or Madam, as the case may be ) ?' We serve all customers with equal consideration 2 fulfil or carry out or perform or discharge (a function or a duty or one's duty), work (for), do (duty) (as or for), do one's part, suffice, be used or of use or useful (to or for), function (as or to), act (as or to), fill the bill, be serviceable (as or for), be available (for), answer (for), be sufficient or adequate or suitable, suit, be advantageous or of advantage (to); fight (for), be obedient (to), take one's part This catch will serve to keep the door closed I had no screw driver, but a coin served just as well. They also serve who only stand and wait. 3 distribute, deal out, dole out, give out, present, set out, provide, supply, offer, pass out or about or around, make available, come (a)round with, dish up or out They will serve hors-d'oeuvres at seven-thirty Dinner is served, Madam. 4 be convenient or opportune or favourable (to) If the opportunity serves me, I shall repay you many times over 5 not fail, not play tricks (on), work or function (for), be accurate or correct If memory serves, he was last here about ten years ago 6 go through, complete, spend, last, endure, survive Henryson served ten years in Dartmoor for that crime