serve
n : a stroke (in tennis or badminton or squash) that puts the
ball in play; "his powerful serves won the game" [syn: {service}]
v 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" [syn: {function}]
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"; "They served as medics
in Vietnam"
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" [syn: {help}]
6: provide food; "We serve meals for the homeless"; "She dished
out the soup at 8 P.M." [syn: {serve up}, {dish out}, {dish
up}, {dish}]
7: be in the service of, be a servant of, as of people,
institutions, or ideas: "She served the art of music"; "He
served the church"; "Marie served her mistress faithfully
until her death"
8: promote; "Art serves commerce"; "Their interests are
served"; "The lake serves recreation"
9: spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years
for embezzlement" [syn: {do}]
10: to act as an attendant 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?" [syn:
{attend to}, {wait on}, {attend}, {assist}]
11: serve somebody with a warrant or summons; "He was processed
by the sheriff" [syn: {process}, {swear out}]
12: mate with; "male animals serve the females for breeding
purposes" [syn: {service}]
13: put the ball into play; as in games like tennis; "It was
Agassi's turn to serve"