| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
serve (sɜːv) ![]() | |
| —vb (sometimes foll by up) | |
| 1. | to be in the service of (a person) |
| 2. | to render or be of service to (a person, cause, etc); help |
| 3. | (in a shop) to give (customers) information about articles for sale and to hand over articles purchased |
| 4. | (tr) to provide (guests, customers, etc) with food, drink, etc: she served her guests with cocktails |
| 5. | to distribute or provide (food, drink, etc) for guests, customers, etc: do you serve coffee? |
| 6. | to present (food, drink, etc) in a specified manner: cauliflower served with cheese sauce |
| 7. | (tr) to provide with a regular supply of |
| 8. | (tr) to work actively for: to serve the government |
| 9. | (tr) to pay homage to: to serve God |
| 10. | to answer the requirements of; suit: this will serve my purpose |
| 11. | (intr; may take an infinitive) to have a use; function: this wood will serve to build a fire |
| 12. | to go through (a period of service, enlistment, imprisonment, etc) |
| 13. | (intr) (of weather, conditions, etc) to be favourable or suitable |
| 14. | (tr) Also: service (of a male animal) to copulate with (a female animal) |
| 15. | sport to put (the ball) into play |
| 16. | (intr) RC Church to act as server at Mass or other services |
| 17. | (tr) to deliver (a legal document, esp a writ or summons) to (a person) |
| 18. | to provide (a machine, etc) with an impulse or signal for control purposes or with a continuous supply of fuel, working material, etc |
| 19. | (tr) nautical See also seize to bind (a rope, spar, etc) with wire or fine cord to protect it from chafing, etc |
| 20. | informal serve a person right to pay a person back, esp for wrongful or foolish treatment or behaviour |
| —n | |
| 21. | sport short for service |
| 22. | (Austral) a portion or helping of food or drink |
| [C13: from Old French servir, from Latin servīre, from servus a slave] | |
| 'servable | |
| —adj | |
| 'serveable | |
| —adj | |
overserved definition
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