SERVE

Pronunciation (US):

• SERVE (noun)
  The noun SERVE has 1 sense:

1. (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play

  Familiarity information: SERVE used as a noun is very rare.

• SERVE (verb)
  The verb SERVE has 15 senses:

1. serve a purpose, role, or function
2. do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function
3. contribute or conduce to
4. be used by; as of a utility
5. help to some food; help with food or drink
6. provide (usually but not necessarily food)
7. devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas
8. promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to
9. spend time in prison or in a labor camp
10. work for or be a servant to
11. deliver a warrant or summons to someone
12. be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity
13. do military service
14. mate with
15. put the ball into play

  Familiarity information: SERVE used as a verb is familiar.

• SERVE (noun)

Sense 1

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

(sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

serve; service

Context example:

his powerful serves won the game

Hypernyms ("serve" is a kind of...):

tennis shot; tennis stroke (the act of hitting a tennis ball with a tennis racket)

Domain category:

squash; squash rackets; squash racquets (a game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with long-handled rackets)

badminton (a game played on a court with light long-handled rackets used to volley a shuttlecock over a net)

lawn tennis; tennis (a game played with rackets by two or four players who hit a ball back and forth over a net that divides the court)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "serve"):

ace (a serve that the receiver is unable to reach)

fault ((sports) a serve that is illegal (e.g., that lands outside the prescribed area))

let; net ball (a serve that strikes the net before falling into the receiver's court; the ball must be served again)

• SERVE (verb)

Sense 1

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Serve a purpose, role, or function

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

serve; function

Context examples:

The tree stump serves as a table / The female students served as a control group / This table would serve very well / His freedom served him well / The table functions as a desk

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

answer; do; serve; suffice (be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

prelude (serve as a prelude or opening to)

act as (function as or act like)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 2

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context examples:

He served as head of the department for three years / She served in Congress for two terms

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

do work; work (be employed)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

represent (be a delegate or spokesperson for; represent somebody's interest or be a proxy or substitute for, as of politicians and office holders representing their constituents, or of a tenant representing other tenants in a housing dispute)

caddie; caddy (act as a caddie and carry clubs for a player)

function; officiate (perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function)

rotate (perform a job or duty on a rotating basis)

act (discharge one's duties)

staff (serve on the staff of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 3

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Contribute or conduce to

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

The scandal served to increase his popularity

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

effect; effectuate; set up (produce)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

facilitate; help (be of use)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sense 4

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Be used by; as of a utility

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

service; serve

Context examples:

The sewage plant served the neighboring communities / The garage served to shelter his horses

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

function; go; operate; run; work (perform as expected when applied)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sense 5

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Help to some food; help with food or drink

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

serve; help

Context example:

I served him three times, and after that he helped himself

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

cater; ply; provide; supply (provide what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot serve Sue

Sense 6

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Provide (usually but not necessarily food)

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

dish; serve up; dish up; dish out; serve

Context examples:

We serve meals for the homeless / She dished out the soup at 8 P.M. / The entertainers served up a lively show

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

cater; ply; provide; supply (provide what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

plank (cook and serve on a plank)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

The chefs serve the vegetables

Sense 7

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context examples:

She served the art of music / He served the church / serve the country

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

work (exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 8

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

serve well; serve

Context examples:

Art serves commerce / Their interests are served / The lake serves recreation / The President's wisdom has served the country well

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

foster; nurture (help develop, help grow)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 9

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Spend time in prison or in a labor camp

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

serve; do

Context example:

He did six years for embezzlement

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

pass; spend (pass (time) in a specific way)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

admit (serve as a means of entrance)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 10

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Work for or be a servant to

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

wait on; attend to; assist; attend; serve

Context examples:

May I serve you? / She attends the old lady in the wheelchair / Can you wait on our table, please? / Is a salesperson assisting you? / The minister served the King for many years

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

aid; assist; help (give help or assistance; be of service)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

valet (serve as a personal attendant to)

fag (act as a servant for older boys, in British public schools)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody with something

Sentence example:

Sam cannot serve Sue

Sense 11

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Deliver a warrant or summons to someone

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

swear out; process; serve

Context example:

He was processed by the sheriff

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

deliver (bring to a destination, make a delivery)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

rinse; wash (clean with some chemical process)

subpoena (serve or summon with a subpoena)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody with something

Sense 12

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

suffice; do; answer; serve

Context examples:

A few words would answer / This car suits my purpose well / Will $100 do? / A 'B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school / Nothing else will serve

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

fulfil; fulfill; live up to; satisfy (fulfil the requirements or expectations of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

go around (be sufficient)

measure up; qualify (prove capable or fit; meet requirements)

function; serve (serve a purpose, role, or function)

go a long way (suffice or be adequate for a while or to a certain extent)

bridge over; keep going; tide over (suffice for a period between two points)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 13

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Do military service

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context examples:

She served in Vietnam / My sons never served, because they are short-sighted

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

do work; work (be employed)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 14

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Mate with

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

service; serve

Context example:

male animals serve the females for breeding purposes

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

copulate; couple; mate; pair (make love)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

stand (be available for stud services)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 15

serve [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Put the ball into play

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

It was Agassi's turn to serve

Hypernyms (to "serve" is one way to...):

go; move (have a turn; make one's move in a game)

Domain category:

court game (an athletic game played on a court)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "serve"):

ace (serve an ace against (someone))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s