serve

Pronunciation: /səːv/

Definition of serve

[with object]

1perform duties or services for (another person or an organization):Malcolm has served the church very faithfully
provide (an area or group of people) with a product or service:a hospital which serves a large area of Wales
[no object] be employed as a member of the armed forces:he had hoped to serve with the Medical Corps
spend (a period) in office, in an apprenticeship, or in prison:he is serving a ten-year jail sentence

2present (food or drink) to someone:they serve wine instead of beer serve white wines chilled
present (someone) with food or drink:the cafe refused to serve him with the tea [with two objects]:Peter served them generous portions of soup
(of food or drink) be enough for:the recipe serves four people
chiefly British attend to (a customer in a shop):she turned to serve the impatient customer
supply (goods) to a customer.
[no object] Christian Church act as a server at the celebration of the Eucharist.
[with two objects] archaic play (a trick) on (someone):I remember the trick you served me

3 Law deliver (a document such as a summons or writ) in a formal manner to the person to whom it is addressed:the court then issues the summons and serves it on your debtor
deliver a document to (the addressee) in a formal manner:they were just about to serve him with a writ

4be of use in achieving or satisfying:this book will serve a useful purpose the union came into existence to serve the interests of musicians
[no object] be of some specified use:the square now serves as the town’s chief car park [with infinitive]:sweat serves to cool down the body
[with object and adverbial] treat (someone) in a specified way:Cornish homeowners wonder if they are being fairly served
(of a male breeding animal) copulate with (a female).

5 [no object] (in tennis and other racket sports) hit the ball or shuttlecock to begin play for each point of a game:he tossed the ball up to serve [with object]:serve the ball on to the front wall
(serve out) win the final game of a set or match while serving: Fitzgerald then served out for the set

7 Military operate (a gun): before long Lodge was the only man in his section able to serve the guns

1(in tennis and other racket sports) an act of hitting the ball or shuttlecock to start play:he was let down by an erratic serve

2Australian informal a reprimand:he would be willing to give the country a serve in an English newspaper

Phrases

if my memory serves (me): if I remember correctly:if my memory serves me, this is not the first time
serve at table: act as a waiter: she was reduced to the landlord’s daughter who served at table
serve someone right: be someone’s deserved punishment or misfortune:it would serve you right if Jeff walked out on you
serve one's time: hold office for the normal period:every sergeant had served his time as a constable; (also serve time) spend time in office, in an apprenticeship, or in prison:he is serving time in Swansea Prison
serve one's/its turn: be useful or helpful: now that they have served their turn, cut some of them out suppressing his ire would hardly serve his turn at this juncture
serve two masters: take orders from two superiors or follow two conflicting or opposing principles or policies at the same time: it is never easy to serve two masters
[with biblical allusion to Matt. 6:24]

Middle English: from Old French servir, from Latin servire, from servus 'slave'

Definition of serve in the US English dictionary