<p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li><p>(used without object)</p><ul><li>to act as a servant</li><li>to wait on table, as a waiter</li><li>to offer or have a meal or refreshments available, as for patrons or guests: Come early, we're serving at six.</li><li>to offer or distribute a portion or portions of food or a beverage, as a host or hostess: It was her turn to serve at the faculty tea.</li><li>to render assistance; be of use; help</li><li>to go through a term of service, do duty as a soldier, sailor, senator, juror, etc.</li><li>to have definite use: This cup will serve as a sugar bowl.</li><li>to answer the purpose: That will serve to explain my actions.</li><li>(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put the ball or shuttlecock in play with a stroke, swing, or hit</li><li>to be favorable, suitable, or convenient, as weather or time</li><li>to act as a server</li></ul></li><li><p>(used with object)</p><ul><li>to be in the service of; work for</li><li>to be useful or of service to; help</li><li>to go through (a term of service, imprisonment, etc.)</li><li>to render active service to (a sovereign, commander, etc.)</li><li>to render obedience or homage to (God, a sovereign, etc.)</li><li>to perform the duties of (a position, an office, etc.): to serve his mayoralty</li><li>to answer the requirements of; suffice: This will serve our needs for the moment</li><li>to contribute to; promote: to serve a cause</li><li>to wait upon at table; act as a waiter or waitress to</li><li>to carry and distribute (portions of food or drink) to a patron or a specific table, as a waiter or waitress</li><li>to act as a host or hostess in offering (a person) a portion of food or drink: May I serve you with some tea and cake?</li><li>to act as a host or hostess in offering or distributing (a portion or portions of food or drink) to another: They served tea and cake to their guests</li><li>to provide with a regular or continuous supply of something</li><li>(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put (the ball or shuttlecock) in play</li><li>to treat in a specified manner: That served him ill</li><li>(Law) to make legal delivery of (a process or writ)</li><li>to present (a person) with a writ</li><li>to gratify (desire, wants, needs, etc.)</li><li>(of a male animal) to mate with; service</li><li>to operate or keep in action (a gun, artillery, etc.)</li><li>Nautical: to wrap (a rope) tightly with small stuff, keeping the turns as close together as possible</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>the act, manner, or right of serving, as in tennis</li></ul>