serve : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: serve	by the DICT Development Group
4 results for serve
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
serve n (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play; "his powerful serves won the game" Synonym(s): serve, service v 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" Synonym(s): serve, function 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" contribute or conduce to; "The scandal served to increase his popularity" be used by; as of a utility; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses" Synonym(s): service, serve help to some food; help with food or drink; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself" Synonym(s): serve, help 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" Synonym(s): serve, serve up, dish out, dish up, dish 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" 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" Synonym(s): serve, serve well spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years for embezzlement" Synonym(s): serve, do 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" Synonym(s): serve, attend to, wait on, attend, assist deliver a warrant or summons to someone; "He was processed by the sheriff" Synonym(s): serve, process, swear out 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" Synonym(s): suffice, do, answer, serve do military service; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted" mate with; "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes" Synonym(s): serve, service put the ball into play; "It was Agassi's turn to serve"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Serve \Serve\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Served}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Serving}.] [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}.] 1. 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. God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit. --Rom. i. 9. Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. --Gen. xxix. 18. No man can serve two masters. --Matt. vi. 24. 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. --Shak. 2. To be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to. Bodies bright and greater should not serve The less not bright. --Milton. 3. To be suitor to; to profess love to. [Obs.] To serve a lady in his beste wise. --Chaucer. 4. 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. Others, pampered in their shameless pride, Are served in plate and in their chariots ride. --Dryden. 5. 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. Bid them cover the table, serve in the meat, and we will come in to dinner. --Shak. Some part he roasts, then serves it up so dressed. --Dryde.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Serve \Serve\, v. i. 1. 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. The Lord shall give thee rest . . . from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve. --Isa. xiv. 3. 2. To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with household affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc. But Martha . . . said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? --Luke x. 40. 3. 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. Many . . . who had before been great commanders, but now served as private gentlemen without pay. --Knolles. 4. To be of use; to answer a purpose; to suffice; to suit; to be convenient or favorable. This little brand will serve to light your fire. --Dryden. As occasion serves, this noble queen And prince shall follow with a fresh supply. --Shak. 5. (Tennis) To lead off in delivering the ball.
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
serve To be a {server}, to provide a {service}. E.g., "The {shttpd} serves requested documents to clients over a secure link." (1997-09-11)