Noun serve has 1 sense
  1. serve, service - (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play; "his powerful serves won the game"
    --1 is a kind of tennis stroke, tennis shot
    --1 has particulars: ace; fault; let, net ball
    Derived form: verb serve15
,Verb serve has 15 senses
  1. serve, function - 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"
    --1 is one way to suffice, do, answer, serve
    Sample sentences:
    Something ----s
    Somebody ----s
    Somebody ----s somebody
    Something ----s something
  2. serve - 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"
    --2 is one way to
    work, do work
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s
    Somebody ----s PP
  3. serve - contribute or conduce to; "The scandal served to increase his popularity"
    --3 is one way to
    effect, effectuate, bring about, set up
    Sample sentences:
    Something is ----ing PP
    Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
  4. service, serve - be used by; as of a utility; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses"
    --4 is one way to function, work, operate, go, run
    Sample sentences:
    Something is ----ing PP
    Something ----s somebody
    Something ----s something
    Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
  5. serve, help - help to some food; help with food or drink; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself"
    --5 is one way to provide, supply, ply, cater
    Derived forms: noun server1, noun server4, noun serving1
    Sample sentence:
    Sam cannot serve Sue
  6. serve, serve up, dish out, dish up, dish - 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"
    --6 is one way to provide, supply, ply, cater
    Sample sentence:
    The chefs serve the vegetables
  7. serve - 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"
    --7 is one way to
    work
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Somebody ----s somebody
  8. serve, serve well - 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 counrty well"
    --8 is one way to foster, nurture
    Derived form: noun servant2
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s somebody
    Something ----s something
  9. serve, do - spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years for embezzlement"
    --9 is one way to spend, pass
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Somebody ----s PP
  10. serve, attend to, wait on, attend, assist - 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"
    --10 is one way to help, assist, aid
    Derived forms: noun servant1, noun servitor1
    Sample sentence:
    Sam cannot serve Sue
  11. serve, process, swear out - deliver a warrant or summons to someone; "He was processed by the sheriff"
    --11 is one way to deliver
    Sample sentences:
    Somebody ----s something
    Somebody ----s somebody with something
  12. suffice, do, answer, serve - 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"
    --12 is one way to satisfy, fulfill, fulfil, live up to
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s
  13. serve - do military service; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted"
    --13 is one way to
    work, do work
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s
  14. serve, service - mate with; "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes"
    --14 is one way to copulate, mate, pair, couple
    Sample sentence:
    Something ----s something
  15. serve - put the ball into play; "It was Agassi's turn to serve"
    --15 is one way to
    move, go
    Derived forms: noun serve1, noun server2
    Sample sentence:
    Somebody ----s
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