c.1175, "to render habitual obedience to," from O.Fr. servir "to serve," from L. servire "to serve," originally "be a slave," related to servus "slave," perhaps from an Etruscan word (cf. Etruscan proper names Servi, Serve). Meaning "to attend to (a customer)" is first recorded 1362; that of "to set food on (a table)" is from c.1386. Sporting sense, in tennis, badminton, etc., first recorded 1585; the noun in this sense is from 1688. To serve (someone) right "to treat as he deserves" is recorded from 1587. To serve the time "shape one's views to what is in favor" is from 1560, translating L. tempori servire; time-server first recorded 1584.
(sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play; "his powerful serves won the game"
verb
1.
serve a purpose, role, or function; "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"
2.
do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function; "He served as head of the department for three years"; "She served in Congress for two terms"
3.
contribute or conduce to; "The scandal served to increase his popularity"
4.
be used by; as of a utility; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses" [syn: service]
5.
help to some food; help with food or drink; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself"
6.
provide (usually but not necessarily food); "We serve meals for the homeless"; "She dished out the soup at 8 P.M."; "The entertainers served up a lively show"
7.
devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas; "She served the art of music"; "He served the church"; "serve the country"
8.
promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to; "Art serves commerce"; "Their interests are served"; "The lake serves recreation"; "The President's wisdom has served the country well"
9.
spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years for embezzlement"
10.
work for or be a servant to; "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"
11.
deliver a warrant or summons to someone; "He was processed by the sheriff"
12.
be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity; "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" [syn: suffice]
13.
do military service; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted"
14.
mate with; "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes"
15.
put the ball into play; "It was Agassi's turn to serve"
to work for a person etc eg as a servant Example: He served his master for forty years.
Arabic:
يَخْدُم
Chinese (Simplified):
为…服务
Chinese (Traditional):
為…服務
Czech:
sloužit
Danish:
tjene
Dutch:
dienen
Estonian:
teenima
Finnish:
palvella
French:
servir
German:
servieren
Greek:
υπηρετώ
Hungarian:
(ki)szolgál
Icelandic:
þjóna
Indonesian:
melayani
Italian:
servire
Japanese:
仕える
Korean:
…을 위하여 일하다
Latvian:
kalpot
Lithuanian:
tarnauti
Norwegian:
tjene
Polish:
służyć
Portuguese (Brazil):
servir a
Portuguese (Portugal):
servir
Romanian:
a servi
Russian:
работать прислугой
Slovak:
slúžiť
Slovenian:
služiti (komu)
Spanish:
servir
Swedish:
tjäna
Turkish:
hizmet etmek
serve2[səːv]verb
to distribute food etc or supply goods Example: She served the soup to the guests; Which shop assistant served you (with these goods)?
Arabic:
يُقَدِّم الطَّعام والشَّراب، يَخْدُم المائِدَه
Chinese (Simplified):
端上（饭菜等）
Chinese (Traditional):
端上（飯菜等）
Czech:
podávat, obsluhovat
Danish:
servere; betjene
Dutch:
bedienen
Estonian:
serveerima, teenindama
Finnish:
tarjoilla, palvella
French:
servir
German:
dienen
Greek:
σερβίρω, εξυπηρετώ
Hungarian:
felszolgál; kiszolgál
Icelandic:
bera fram, framreiða
Indonesian:
menghidangkan
Italian:
servire
Japanese:
給仕する
Korean:
(음식 등을) 제공하다; (물건을) 공급하다
Latvian:
apkalpot; apgādāt (ar precēm)
Lithuanian:
patiekti
Norwegian:
servere; ekspedere; betjene
Polish:
podawać
Portuguese (Brazil):
servir
Portuguese (Portugal):
servir
Romanian:
a servi
Russian:
разносить; обслуживать
Slovak:
podávať, obsluhovať
Slovenian:
streči
Spanish:
servir
Swedish:
servera, betjäna, expediera, förse
Turkish:
servis yapmak, vermek
serve3[səːv]verb
to be suitable for a purpose Example: This upturned bucket will serve as a seat.
Arabic:
يَصْلُح لِ، يَسُد مَسَد، يَكون بِمَثابَة
Chinese (Simplified):
适用
Chinese (Traditional):
适用
Czech:
sloužit
Danish:
tjene
Dutch:
dienen
Estonian:
sobima, kõlbama
Finnish:
sopia
French:
servir (de)
German:
dienen
Greek:
χρησιμεύω, είμαι κατάλληλος για κτ.
Hungarian:
szolgál vmiül
Icelandic:
duga, nÿtast
Indonesian:
cocok
Italian:
servire
Japanese:
～に役立つ
Korean:
(목적에) 맞다
Latvian:
noderēt; kalpot (kādam nolūkam)
Lithuanian:
tikti, būti
Norwegian:
tjene, gjøre tjeneste som
Polish:
służyć
Portuguese (Brazil):
servir
Portuguese (Portugal):
servir
Romanian:
a servi (de)
Russian:
служить
Slovak:
slúžiť
Slovenian:
rabiti
Spanish:
servir (de)
Swedish:
tjäna, passa, duga, fungera
Turkish:
…-e, *a yaramak, işini görmek
serve4[səːv]verb
to perform duties, eg as a member of the armed forces Example: He served (his country) as a soldier for twenty years; I served on the committee for five years.
Arabic:
يَخْدُم في الجَيْش
Chinese (Simplified):
服役
Chinese (Traditional):
服役
Czech:
sloužit; pracovat
Danish:
tjene; gøre tjeneste
Dutch:
dienen
Estonian:
teenima
Finnish:
palvella, toimia
French:
servir; être membre de
German:
dienen
Greek:
υπηρετώ, θητεύω
Hungarian:
szolgál(atban áll)
Icelandic:
gegna hlutverki, *skyldu
Indonesian:
mengabdi
Italian:
servire; essere membro di*
Japanese:
勤める
Korean:
근무하다, (특히 군무에) 복무하다
Latvian:
dienēt; veikt pienākumu
Lithuanian:
tarnauti
Norwegian:
avtjene; sitte i, være medlem av
Polish:
odbywać służbę, pełnić funkcję
Portuguese (Brazil):
servir, prestar serviço
Portuguese (Portugal):
servir
Romanian:
a sluji; a fi membru (al)
Russian:
служить, исполнять обязанности
Slovak:
slúžiť; pracovať
Slovenian:
služiti
Spanish:
servir, prestar servicio
Swedish:
tjäna, tjänstgöra
Turkish:
askerlik yapmak, asker olmak
serve5[səːv]verb
to undergo (a prison sentence) Example: He served (a sentence of) six years for armed robbery.
Arabic:
يَقْضي مُدَّة الحُكم أو العُقوبَه
Chinese (Simplified):
度过（服刑）
Chinese (Traditional):
度過（服刑）
Czech:
odsedět si (trest)
Danish:
afsone
Dutch:
uitzitten
Estonian:
karistust kandma
Finnish:
kärsiä
French:
purger (une peine)
German:
absitzen
Greek:
εκτίω (ποινή)
Hungarian:
(büntetését) tölti
Icelandic:
sitja af sér
Indonesian:
menjalani hukuman
Italian:
scontare
Japanese:
服役する
Korean:
(죄수로서) 복역하다
Latvian:
izciest sodu
Lithuanian:
atlikti (bausmę)
Norwegian:
sone, sitte inne
Polish:
odsiadywać karę
Portuguese (Brazil):
cumprir
Portuguese (Portugal):
cumprir
Romanian:
a ispăşi
Russian:
отбывать (срок)
Slovak:
odsedieť si (trest)
Slovenian:
odsedeti
Spanish:
cumplir
Swedish:
avtjäna
Turkish:
hapis cezası çekmek, hapiste yatmak
serve6[səːv]verb
in tennis and similar games, to start the play by throwing up the ball etc and hitting it Example: He served the ball into the net; Is it your turn to serve?
Arabic:
يَضْرُب الضَّرْبَة المَبدئِيَّه في التِّنس أو كُرة ال
Chinese (Simplified):
发球
Chinese (Traditional):
發球
Czech:
podávat
Danish:
serve
Dutch:
serveren
Estonian:
servima
Finnish:
syöttää
French:
servir
German:
aufschlagen
Greek:
κάνω σερβίς
Hungarian:
adogat
Icelandic:
gefa upp
Indonesian:
melakukan serve
Italian:
servire
Japanese:
サーブする
Korean:
(공을) 서브하다
Latvian:
servēt
Lithuanian:
servuoti
Norwegian:
serve
Polish:
serwować
Portuguese (Brazil):
servir
Portuguese (Portugal):
servir
Romanian:
a servi
Russian:
подавать
Slovak:
podávať
Slovenian:
servirati
Spanish:
sacar
Swedish:
serva
Turkish:
servis atmak
serve[səːv]noun
act of serving (a ball)
Arabic:
الضَّربَةُ المَبدَئِيَّه في التِّنِس أو كُرَة الطّاوِ
Con*serve"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conserved; p. pr. & vb. n. Conserving.] [F. conserver, L. conservare; con- + servare to keep, guard. See Serve.]1. To keep in a safe or sound state; to save; to preserve; to protect. The amity which . . . they meant to conserve and maintain with the emperor. --Strype. 2. To prepare with sugar, etc., for the purpose of preservation, as fruits, etc.; to make a conserve of.
De*serve"\ (d[-e]*z[~e]rv"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deserved; p. pr. & vb. n. Deserving.] [OF. deservir, desservir, to merit, L. deservire to serve zealously, be devoted to; de- + servire to serve. See Serve.]1. To earn by service; to be worthy of (something due, either good or evil); to merit; to be entitled to; as, the laborer deserves his wages; a work of value deserves praise. God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. --Job xi. 6. John Gay deserved to be a favorite. --Thackeray. Encouragement is not held out to things that deserve reprehension. --Burke. 2. To serve; to treat; to benefit. [Obs.] A man that hath So well deserved me. --Massinger.
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Audio Help [surv] Pronunciation Key verb, served, serv·ing, noun 
