verb
serve
surv
verb
1
To provide help, food, or a service to someone.
"The waiter served our food quickly."
"She has served this community for over twenty years."
2
To be useful or suitable for a particular purpose.
"This old box can serve as a table."
"A rolled-up towel can serve as a pillow in a pinch."
3
To officially deliver a legal document to someone.
"A court official served him with the divorce papers."
"She was served a subpoena at her workplace."
4
To hit the ball first to start play in tennis, volleyball, and similar sports.
"She served an ace to win the match."
noun
1
The act of putting the ball in play at the start of a point in tennis or similar sports.
"His serve was clocked at over 120 miles per hour."
How to Use Serve
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo help someone, provide something they need, or work for them — also the opening shot in racket sports.
Common pairings
serve a purpose
serve food
serve papers
serve the ball
Word Forms
served past tense, serves plural, serves singular
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The waiter _____ our food quickly.
Etymology
From Old French servir, from Latin servire ("to serve"), related to servus ("slave; servant").