English

Etymology
From ME. serven < MF. servir < OF. < L. servire "to be a slave, to serve" < L. servus "slave, servant".

Pronunciation
audio|en-us-serve.ogg|Audio (US)
Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-��(r)v|-��(r)v

Noun
en-noun

1. sports the act of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play in various games

#:Whose serve is it?

1. US A portion of food, a serving

Synonyms
(sports: act of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play): service
(US: portion of food): See serving

Translations
trans-top|sports: act of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play
Finnish: syöttö
trans-mid
Slovene: servis m
Swedish: serve#Swedish|serve
trans-bottom

US: portion of food
:See serving

Verb
en-verb|serv|ing

1. To work for; to labor in behalf of; to exert one's self continuously or statedly for the benefit of; to do service for; to be in the employment of, as an inferior, domestic, serf, slave, hired assistant, official helper, etc.; specifically, in a religious sense, to obey and worship.
2. <!--DefB-->To be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to.
3. <!--DefC-->To be suitor to; to profess love to.
4. <!--DefD-->To wait upon; to supply the wants of; to attend; specifically, to wait upon at table; to attend at meals; to supply with food; as, to serve customers in a shop.
5. <!--DefE-->Hence, to bring forward, arrange, deal, or distribute, as a portion of anything, especially of food prepared for eating; -- often with up; formerly with in.
6. <!--DefF-->To perform the duties belonging to, or required in or for; hence, to be of use to; as, a curate may serve two churches; to serve one's country.
7. <!--DefG-->To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn.
8. <!--DefH-->To answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a sofa serves one for a seat and a couch.
9. <!--DefI-->To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill.
10. <!--DefJ-->To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns.
11. <!--DefK-->To bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually or constructively, in such manner as the law requires; as, to serve a summons.
12. <!--DefL-->To make legal service opon (a person named in a writ, summons, etc.); as, to serve a witness with a subpoena.
13. <!--DefM-->To pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as, to serve a term in prison.
14. <!--DefN-->To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; -- said of the male.
15. <!--DefO-->(tennis): To lead off in delivering (the ball).
16. <!--DefP-->To wind spun yarn, or the like, tightly around (a rope or cable, etc.) so as to protect it from chafing or from the weather. See under Serving.
17. <!--DefQ-->To be a servant or a slave; to be employed in labor or other business for another; to be in subjection or bondage; to render menial service.
18. <!--DefR-->To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with household affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc.
19. <!--DefS-->To be in service; to do duty; to discharge the requirements of an office or employment. Specifically, to act in the public service, as a soldier, seaman. etc.
20. <!--DefT-->To be of use; to answer a purpose; to suffice; to suit; to be convenient or favorable.

Derived terms
service
serviced
server
servile
serve somebody right

Related terms
conserve
deserve
preserve
reserve
subserve

Translations
trans-top|To work for
Czech: sloužit
Finnish: palvella
trans-mid
Swedish: serva
trans-bottom

trans-top|To be subordinate to
trans-mid
Swedish: tjäna
trans-bottom

trans-top|To be suitor to
trans-mid
Swedish: uppvakta
trans-bottom

trans-top|To attend, supply the wants of
Finnish: tarjoilla
trans-mid
trans-bottom

trans-top|To bring forward, distribute
Finnish: tarjoilla, tarjota
trans-mid
Swedish: servera
trans-bottom

trans-top|To perform duties
trans-mid
Swedish: tjäna
trans-bottom

trans-top|To contribute, promote
trans-mid
trans-bottom

<!---DefH--->

mid

<!---DefI--->

mid

<!---DefJ--->

mid

<!---DefK--->

mid

trans-top|To make legal service
trans-mid
trans-bottom

trans-top|To spend time of punishment
trans-mid
Swedish: avtjäna
trans-bottom

trans-top|To copulate
trans-mid
Swedish: betäcka (especially of animals)
trans-bottom

trans-top|Tennis
trans-mid
Swedish: serva
trans-bottom

trans-top|To wind spun yarn
trans-mid
trans-bottom

trans-top|To be a servant
Finnish: palvella
trans-mid
Swedish: tjäna
trans-bottom

trans-top|To perform domestic offices
trans-mid
trans-bottom

trans-top|To be in service
trans-mid
trans-bottom

trans-top|To be of use
trans-mid
trans-bottom

Anagrams
verse

French

Pronunciation
w:IPA|IPA: /s��v/
w:SAMPA|SAMPA: /sERv/

Verb form
serve

1. first-, third-person singular subjunctive present of servir

Category:French verb forms

Italian

Verb form
serve

1. third-person singular indicative present of servire

Category:Tennis
Category:Italian verb forms
Category:Etruscan derivations

Latin
Noun
serve m

1. inflection of|servus#Latin|servus|voc|s

category:Latin noun forms

fr:serve
io:serve
id:serve
it:serve
hu:serve
pl:serve
pt:serve
ru:serve
fi:serve
sv:serve
ta:serve
te:serve
vi:serve

• 2007-12-08 19:01 - Frous -

Full Revision History