serve
serve is a 5-letter English word with 37 senses as transitive verb, intransitive verb, noun, and verb in the JumbleFix dictionary. One common meaning is: 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. Face value is 8 in Scrabble and 9 in Words With Friends. Use the entries below when you need a playable sense, a nearby word, or another arrangement of the same letters.
Definitions
- transitive verb. 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.
- transitive verb. To be subordinate to; to act a secondary part under; to appear as the inferior of; to minister to.
- transitive verb. To be suitor to; to profess love to.
- transitive verb. 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.
- transitive verb. 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.
- transitive verb. To perform the duties belonging to, or required in or for; hence, to be of use to; as, a curate may serve two churches; to serve one's country.
- transitive verb. To contribute or conduce to; to promote; to be sufficient for; to satisfy; as, to serve one's turn.
- transitive verb. To answer or be (in the place of something) to; as, a sofa serves one for a seat and a couch.
- transitive verb. To treat; to behave one's self to; to requite; to act toward; as, he served me very ill.
- transitive verb. To work; to operate; as, to serve the guns.
- transitive verb. To bring to notice, deliver, or execute, either actually or constructively, in such manner as the law requires; as, to serve a summons.
- transitive verb. To make legal service opon (a person named in a writ, summons, etc.); as, to serve a witness with a subp/na.
- transitive verb. To pass or spend, as time, esp. time of punishment; as, to serve a term in prison.
- transitive verb. To copulate with; to cover; as, a horse serves a mare; -- said of the male.
- transitive verb. To lead off in delivering (the ball).
- transitive verb. To wind spun yarn, or the like, tightly around (a rope or cable, etc.) so as to protect it from chafing or from the weather. See under Serving.
- intransitive verb. 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.
- intransitive verb. To perform domestic offices; to be occupied with household affairs; to prepare and dish up food, etc.
- intransitive verb. 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.
- intransitive verb. To be of use; to answer a purpose; to suffice; to suit; to be convenient or favorable.
- intransitive verb. To lead off in delivering the ball.
- noun. (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play
"his powerful serves won the game"
- verb. put the ball into play
"It was Agassi's turn to serve"
- verb. 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"
- verb. provide (usually but not necessarily food)
"We serve meals for the homeless"
"She dished out the soup at 8 P.M."
- verb. help to some food; help with food or drink
"I served him three times, and after that he helped himself"
- verb. mate with
"male animals serve the females for breeding purposes"
- verb. deliver a warrant or summons to someone
"He was processed by the sheriff"
- verb. do military service
"She served in Vietnam"
"My sons never served, because they are short-sighted"
- verb. work for or be a servant to
"May I serve you?"
"She attends the old lady in the wheelchair"
- verb. be used by; as of a utility
"The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"
"The garage served to shelter his horses"
- verb. 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"
- verb. be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity
"A few words would answer"
"This car suits my purpose well"
- verb. contribute or conduce to
"The scandal served to increase his popularity"
- verb. promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to
"Art serves commerce"
"Their interests are served"
- verb. serve a purpose, role, or function
"The tree stump serves as a table"
"The female students served as a control group"
- verb. spend time in prison or in a labor camp
"He did six years for embezzlement"
Synonyms
service, dish, help, process, assist, attend, answer, do, suffice, function
Anagrams
Other playable words that use exactly the letters in serve:
Common word forms
served, server, serves, serving
Words from these letters
If you are holding these tiles, the unscrambler for SERVE lists every valid word you can make from the same letters, including shorter plays.