MiniDic > S > serve

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serve > 16 senses
NOUN	1	serve, service	(sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play
VERB	1	serve, function	Serve a purpose, role, or function
	2	serve	Do duty or hold offices
	3	serve	Contribute or conduce to
	4	serve, service	Be used by
	5	serve, help	Help to some food
	6	serve, serve up, dish out, dish up, dish	Provide (usually but not necessarily food)
	7	serve	Devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas
	8	serve, serve well	Promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to
	9	serve, do	Spend time in prison or in a labor camp
	10	serve, attend to, wait on, attend, assist	Work for or be a servant to
	11	serve, process, swear out	Deliver a warrant or summons to someone
	12	serve, suffice, do, answer	Be sufficient
	13	serve	Do military service
	14	serve, service	Mate with
	15	serve	Put the ball into play

serve > pronunciation
Sounds	ser'v
Rhymes	conserve, curve, deserve, and 9 more rhymes in erv at the HyperDic website...

serve > noun, act
Meaning	(sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play.
Examples	"his powerful serves won the game"
Synonyms	service
Category	squash, squash racquets, squash rackets; badminton; tennis, lawn tennis
Narrower	ace; fault; let, net ball
Broader	tennis stroke, tennis shot
Verbs	serve

serve > verb 1, stative
Meaning	Serve a purpose, role, or function.
Pattern	Something ----s; Somebody ----s; Somebody ----s somebody; Something ----s something
Examples	"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"
Synonyms	function
Narrower	prelude; act as
Broader	suffice, do, answer, serve
Similar to	service, serve

serve > verb 2, competition
Meaning	Do duty or hold offices. Serve in a specific function.
Pattern	Somebody ----s; Somebody ----s PP
Examples	"He served as head of the department for three years"; "She served in Congress for two terms"
Narrower	staff; act; rotate; officiate, function; caddie, caddy; represent
Broader	work, do work
Similar to	serve

serve > verb 3, stative
Meaning	Contribute or conduce to.
Pattern	Something is ----ing PP; Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
Examples	"The scandal served to increase his popularity"
Narrower	help, facilitate
Broader	effect, effectuate, bring about, set up
Similar to	serve, serve well

serve > verb 4, social
Meaning	Be used by. As of a utility.
Pattern	Something is ----ing PP; Something ----s somebody; Something ----s something; Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
Examples	"The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses"
Synonyms	service
Broader	function, work, operate, go, run
Similar to	serve, function

serve > verb 5, consumption
Meaning	Help to some food. Help with food or drink.
Pattern	Somebody ----s somebody
Model	Sam cannot serve Sue
Examples	"I served him three times, and after that he helped himself"
Synonyms	help
Broader	provide, supply, ply, cater
Similar to	serve, serve up, dish out, dish up, dish
Nouns	serving; server; server

serve > verb 6, consumption
Meaning	Provide (usually but not necessarily food).
Pattern	Somebody ----s something
Model	The chefs serve the vegetables
Examples	"We serve meals for the homeless"; "The entertainers served up a lively show"
Synonyms	serve up, dish out, dish up, dish
Narrower	plank
Broader	provide, supply, ply, cater
Similar to	serve, help

serve > verb 7, social
Meaning	Devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas.
Pattern	Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody
Examples	"She served the art of music"; "He served the church"; "serve the country"
Broader	work
Similar to	serve, attend to, wait on, attend, assist

serve > verb 8, stative
Meaning	Promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to.
Pattern	Somebody ----s something; Something ----s somebody; Something ----s something
Examples	"Art serves commerce"; "Their interests are served"; "The lake serves recreation"; "The President's wisdom has served the counrty well"
Synonyms	serve well
Broader	foster, nurture
Similar to	serve
Nouns	servant

serve > verb 9, stative
Meaning	Spend time in prison or in a labor camp.
Pattern	Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s PP
Synonyms	do
Narrower	admit
Broader	spend, pass

serve > verb 10, social
Meaning	Work for or be a servant to.
Pattern	Somebody ----s somebody; Somebody ----s somebody with something
Model	Sam cannot serve Sue
Examples	"May I serve you?"; "The minister served the King for many years"
Synonyms	attend to, wait on, attend, assist
Narrower	valet; fag
Broader	help, assist, aid
Similar to	serve
Nouns	servant; servitor

serve > verb 11, contact
Meaning	Deliver a warrant or summons to someone.
Pattern	Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody with something
Synonyms	process, swear out
Narrower	subpoena
Broader	deliver

serve > verb 12, stative
Meaning	Be sufficient. Be adequate, either in quality or quantity.
Pattern	Something ----s
Examples	"Nothing else will serve"
Synonyms	suffice, do, answer
Narrower	tide over, bridge over, keep going; go a long way; serve, function; qualify, measure up; go around
Broader	satisfy, fulfill, fulfil, live up to

serve > verb 13, social
Meaning	Do military service.
Pattern	Somebody ----s
Examples	"She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted"
Broader	work, do work
Similar to	serve

serve > verb 14, contact
Meaning	Mate with.
Pattern	Something ----s something
Examples	"male animals serve the females for breeding purposes"
Synonyms	service
Narrower	stand
Broader	copulate, mate, pair, couple

serve > verb 15, competition
Meaning	Put the ball into play.
Pattern	Somebody ----s
Examples	"It was Agassi's turn to serve"
Category	court game
Narrower	ace
Broader	move, go
Nouns	serve; server

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