Serve

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Serve, v. t. [OE. serven, servien, OF. & F. servir, fr. L. servire; akin to servus a servant or slave, servare to protect, preserve, observe; cf. Zend har to protect, haurva protecting. Cf. Conserve, Desert merit, Dessert, Observe, Serf, Sergeant.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit."  [1913 Webster]

  "Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter."  [1913 Webster]

  "No man can serve two masters."  [1913 Webster]

  "Had I but served my God with half the zeal
  I served my king, he would not in mine age
  Have left me naked to mine enemies."  [1913 Webster]
•  To be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to.  [1913 Webster]

  "Bodies bright and greater should not serve
  The less not bright."  [1913 Webster]
•  To be suitor to; to profess love to.  [1913 Webster]

  "To serve a lady in his beste wise."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Others, pampered in their shameless pride,
  Are served in plate and in their chariots ride."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner."  [1913 Webster]

  "Some part he roasts, then serves it up so dressed."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn.  [1913 Webster]

  "Turn it into some advantage, by observing where it can serve another end."  [1913 Webster]
•  To answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a sofa serves one for a seat and a couch.  [1913 Webster]
•  To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill.  [1913 Webster]
•  To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns.  [1913 Webster]
•  To bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually or constructively, in such manner as the law requires; as, to serve a summons.  [1913 Webster]
•  To pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as, to serve a term in prison.  [1913 Webster]
•  To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; -- said of the male.  [1913 Webster]
•  To lead off in delivering (the ball).  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "I will serve myself of this concession."  [1913 Webster]

  "They think herein we serve the time, because thereby we either hold or seek preferment."  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- To obey; minister to; subserve; promote; aid; help; assist; benefit; succor.

Serve, v. i. 

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "The Lord shall give thee rest . . . from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve."  [1913 Webster]
•  To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with household affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc.  [1913 Webster]

  "But Martha . . . said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?"  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Many . . . who had before been great commanders, but now served as private gentlemen without pay."  [1913 Webster]
•  To be of use; to answer a purpose; to suffice; to suit; to be convenient or favorable.  [1913 Webster]

  "This little brand will serve to light your fire."  [1913 Webster]

  "As occasion serves, this noble queen
  And prince shall follow with a fresh supply."  [1913 Webster]
•  To lead off in delivering the ball.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Serve, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. do a service for (a person, community, etc.).
2 tr. (also absol.) be a servant to.
3 intr. carry out duties (served on six committees).
4 intr. a (foll. by in) be employed in (an organization, esp. the armed forces, or a place, esp. a foreign country) (served in the air force). b be a member of the armed forces.
5 a tr. be useful to or serviceable for; meet the needs of; do what is required for (serve a purpose; one packet serves him for a week). b intr. meet requirements; perform a function (a sofa serving as a bed). c intr. (foll. by to + infin.) avail, suffice (his attempt served only to postpone the inevitable; it serves to show the folly of such action).
6 tr. go through a due period of (office, apprenticeship, a prison sentence, etc.).
7 tr. set out or present (food) for those about to eat it (asparagus served with butter; dinner was then served).
8 intr. (in full serve at table) act as a waiter.
9 tr. a attend to (a customer in a shop). b (foll. by with) supply with (goods) (was serving a customer with apples; served the town with gas).
10 tr. treat or act towards (a person) in a specified way (has served me shamefully; you may serve me as you will).
11 tr. a (often foll. by on) deliver (a writ etc.) to the person concerned in a legally formal manner (served a warrant on him). b (foll. by with) deliver a writ etc. to (a person) in this way (served her with a summons).
12 tr. Tennis etc. a (also absol.) deliver (a ball etc.) to begin or resume play. b produce (a fault etc.) by doing this.
13 tr. Mil. keep (a gun, battery, etc.) firing.
14 tr. (of an animal, esp. a stallion etc. hired for the purpose) copulate with (a female).
15 tr. distribute (served the ammunition out; served the rations round).
16 tr. render obedience to (a deity etc.).
17 Eccl. a intr. act as a server. b tr. act as a server at (a service).
18 intr. (of a tide) be suitable for a ship to leave harbour etc.
19 tr. Naut. bind (a rope etc.) with thin cord to strengthen it.
20 tr. play (a trick etc.) on.
--n.
1 Tennis etc. a the act or an instance of serving. b a manner of serving. c a person's turn to serve.
2 Austral. sl. a reprimand.

Idiom

it will serve it will be adequate. serve one's needs (or need) be adequate. serve out retaliate on. serve the purpose of take the place of, be used as. serve a person right be a person's deserved punishment or misfortune. serve one's time
1 hold office for the normal period.
2 (also serve time) undergo imprisonment, apprenticeship, etc. serve one's (or the) turn be adequate. serve up offer for acceptance.

Etymology

ME f. OF servir f. L servire f. servus slave

THESAURUS

Serve

accommodate, accord, act, act as, act for, administer, administer to, advance, advantage, afford, allot, allow, answer, answer for, assist, attend, attend on, attend to, avail, award, ball, be OK, be correct, be equal to, be found wanting, be handy, be inferior, be instrumental, be intimate, be of use, be right, bear, bear arms, befit, befitting, behave, bend to, benefit, bestead, bestow, bestow on, bias, bid come, bowl, break no bones, call, call away, call back, call for, call forth, call in, call out, call together, call up, care for, carry arms, cast, catapult, cater to, change of pace, change-up, chore, chuck, chunk, cite, cohabit, come short, come together, commit adultery, communicate, complete, conduce, confer, conjure, conjure up, contribute, convene, convoke, copulate, couple, cover, curve, dance attendance upon, dart, dash, deal, deal out, demand, diddle, dish out, dish up, dispense, dispose, distribute, do, do active duty, do duty, do for, do good, do it, do no harm, do service to, do the job, do the trick, dole, dole out, donate, downcurve, drudge, endure, evoke, extend, facilitate, fail, fall short, fastball, favor, fight for, fill the bill, fire, fit, fling, flip, follow, fork, fork out, fornicate, forward, forward pass, frig, fulfill, function, function as, get by, gift, gift with, give, give freely, give good returns, give out, go, go around, go between, go through, grant, gratify, hack it, hand out, have a tendency, have nothing on, have sex, have sexual relations, head, heap, heave, help, help to, hold, hurl, hurtle, impart, incline, incurve, indent, invoke, issue, jerk, just do, knuckleball, lackey, lance, last, lateral, lateral pass, launch, lavish, lay, lead, lean, let fly, let have, lie with, lob, look after, look to, maid, make, make available, make it with, make love, make out, make the grade, mate, mediate, meet, meet requirements, mete, mete out, minister to, mount, move, muster, muster up, not approach, not come amiss, not come near, not compare, not fail, not hack it, not make it, not measure up, oblige, offer, officiate, operate, order up, outcurve, page, pander to, pass, pass muster, pay, pay off, peg, pelt, perform as, pitch, pitchfork, play, play second fiddle, point, point to, pour, practice, preconize, present, proceed, proffer, profit, promote, provide, put, put the shot, qualify, rain, rank under, reach, recall, redound to, relate, render, requisition, satisfy, screw, screwball, send after, send for, serve the purpose, service, set, set out, set toward, shell out, shot-put, shoulder a gun, shoulder arms, show a tendency, shower, shy, sinker, sleep with, slider, sling, slip, snap, snow, soldier, spend, spitball, spitter, stand, stand up, stretch, subpoena, subserve, suffice, suit, suit the occasion, summon, summon forth, summon up, summons, supply, survive, take care of, take it, tend, tender, throw, tilt, toss, trend, turn, upcurve, upon, use, valet, verge, vouchsafe, wait, wait on, want, warp, wear the uniform, work, work for, work toward, yield, yield a profit

ROGET THESAURUS

Serve

Business

VB pass one's time in, employ one's time in, spend one's time in, employ oneself in, employ oneself upon, occupy oneself with, concern oneself with, make it one's business, undertake, enter a profession, betake oneself to, turn one's hand to, have to do with, office, place, post, chargeship, incumbency, living, situation, berth, employ, service, engagement, undertaking, drive a trade, carry on a trade, do a trade, transact a trade, carry on business, do business, transact business, keep a shop, ply one's task, ply one's trade, labor in one's vocation, pursue the even tenor of one's way, attend to business, attend to one's work, officiate, serve, act, act one's part, play one's part, do duty, serve the office of, discharge the office of, perform the office of, perform the duties of, perform the functions of, hold an office, fill an office, fill a place, fill a situation, hold a portfolio, hold a place, hold a situation, be about, be doing, be engaged in, be employed in, be occupied with, be at work on, have one's hands in, have in hand, have on one's hands, have on one's shoulders, bear the burden, have one's hands full, be in the hands of, be on the stocks, be on the anvil, pass through one's hands, Adj, businesslike, workaday, professional, official, functional, busy, on hand, in hand, in one's hands, afoot, on foot, on the anvil, going on, acting, Adv, in the course of business, all in one's day's work, professionally.

Utility

VB be useful, avail, serve, subserve, conduce, answer, serve one's turn, answer a purpose, serve a purpose, act a part, perform a function, discharge a function, render a service, render good service, render yeoman's service, bestead, stand one in good stead be the making of, help, bear fruit, bring grist to the mill, profit, remunerate, benefit, find one's account in, find one's advantage in, reap the benefit of, render useful.

Aid

VB aid, assist, help, succor, lend one's aid, come to the aid, of, contribute, subscribe to, bring aid, give aid, furnish aid, afford aid, supply aid, give a helping hand, stretch a hand, lend a helping hand, lend a hand, bear a helping hand, hold out a hand, hold out a helping hand, give one a life, give one a cast, give one a turn, take by the hand, take in tow, help a lame dog over a stile, lend wings to, relieve, rescue, set up, set agoing, set on one's legs, bear through, pull through, give new life to, be the making of, reinforce, reenforce, recruit, set forward, put forward, push forward, give a lift, give a shove, give an impulse to, promote, further, forward, advance expedite, speed, quicken, hasten, support, sustain, uphold, prop, hold up, bolster, cradle, nourish, nurture, nurse, dry nurse, suckle, put out to nurse, manure, cultivate, force, foster, cherish, foment, feed the flame, fan the flame, serve, do service to, tender to, pander to, administer to, subminister to, minister to, tend, attend, wait on, take care of, entertain, smooth the bed of death, oblige, accommodate, consult the wishes of, humor, cheer, encourage, second, stand by, back, back up, pay the piper, abet, work for, make interest for, stick up for, take up the cudgels for, take up the cause of, espouse the cause of, adopt the cause of, advocate, beat up for recruits, press into the service, squire, give moral support to, keep in countenance, countenance, patronize, lend oneself to, lend one's countenance to, smile upon, shine upon, favor, befriend, take in hand, enlist under the banners of, side with, be of use to, subserve, benefit, render a service, conduce.

Warfare

VB arm, raise troops, mobilize troops, raise up in arms, take up the cudgels, take up arms, fly to arms, appeal to arms, fly to the sword, draw the sword, unsheathe the sword, dig up the hatchet, dig up the tomahawk, go to war, wage war, let slip the dogs of war, cry havoc, kindle the torch of war, light the torch of war, raise one's banner, raise the fire cross, hoist the black flag, throw away, fling away the scabbard, enroll, enlist, take the field, take the law into one's own hands, do battle, give battle, join battle, engage in battle, go to battle, flesh one's sword, set to, fall to, engage, measure swords with, draw the trigger, cross swords, come to blows, come to close quarters, fight, combat, contend, battle with, break a lance with, raise the jolly roger, run up the jolly roger, serve, see service, be on service, be on active service, campaign, wield the sword, shoulder a musket, smell powder, be under fire, spill blood, imbrue the hands in blood, on the warpath, carry on war, carry on hostilities, keep the field, fight the good fight, fight it out, fight like devils, fight one's way, fight hand to hand, sell one's life dearly, pay the ferryman's fee.

Obedience

VB be obedient, obey, bear obedience to, submit, comply, answer the helm, come at one's call, do one's bidding, do what one is told, do suit and service, attend to orders, serve faithfully, follow the lead of, follow to the world's end, serve, play second fiddle.

Servant

VB serve, wait upon, attend upon, dance attendance upon, pin oneself upon, squire, tend, hang on the sleeve of, chore.

Subjection

VB be subject, be at the mercy of, lie at the mercy of, depend upon, lean upon, hang upon, fall a prey to, fall under, play second fiddle, be a mere machine, be a puppet, be a football, not dare to say one's soul is his own, drag a chain, serve, obey, submit, break in, tame, subject, subjugate, master, tread down, tread under foot, weigh down, drag at one's chariot wheels, reduce to subjection, reduce to slavery, enthrall, inthrall, bethrall, enslave, lead captive, take into custody, rule, drive into a corner, hold at the sword's point, keep under, hold in bondage, hold in leading strings, hold in swaddling clothes.