to hold a post or office or to discharge a duty for
(often + as) to work in a particular capacity or hold office for (a period of time)
to be employed or spend time as a member of the armed forces of (a country)
to attend to (a customer) in a shop, bar, etc
to distribute (food or drinks) during a meal
to wait on (somebody) at table
to act as a servant
(often + as/for) to fulfil a particular purpose or have a particular effect
to be adequate or satisfactory
This will serve for now
formal to be favourable, opportune, or convenient
in tennis and other games, to begin a period of play by hitting the ball or shuttlecock
to help or benefit; to be available to
to act as a servant to
(often + on) to deliver or execute (a legal writ or summons)
of a male animal: to copulate with (a female)
formal to behave towards or treat (somebody) in a specified way
They have served you ill
to act in such a way as to help or benefit (something or somebody)
The citizen's duty is to serve society
to be a useful possession or attribute to (somebody)
This watch has served me well over the years
to attend to or provide for (a customer) in a shop, bar, etc
to supply (food or drink) to guests or diners
to wait on (somebody) at table
to act as a servant to (somebody)
to give due honour and obedience to (God)
to be employed or spend time as a member of the armed forces of (a country)
in the Christian Church: to assist the officiating priest at (the Mass or Eucharist)
(often + as) to work in a particular capacity or hold office for (a period of time)
served seven years as an apprentice
to be imprisoned for (a period of time)
said of a school or other institution: be available for use by the people of (an area)
(often + as/for) to be useful to (somebody) in a particular capacity
The males had great canine teeth, which served them as formidable weapons — Darwin
A great stone that I happened to find … served me for an anchor — Jonathan Swift
to put (the ball or shuttlecock) into play in tennis, badminton, and similar games
(often + on) to deliver or execute (e.g. a writ or summons) as required by law
said of a male animal: to copulate with (a female)
to wind yarn or wire tightly round (a rope or stay) for protection
formal to behave towards or treat (somebody) in a specified way
He served me very ill
to hold a post or office or to discharge a duty
serve on a jury
to be employed or spend time as a member of the armed forces
to attend to customers in a shop, bar, etc
to distribute drinks or helpings of food during a meal
to act as a waiter
in the Christian Church: to assist the officiating priest at Mass or the Eucharist
to act as a servant
(often + as/for) to be of use in a particular capacity, fulfil a particular purpose, or have particular effect
to be adequate or satisfactory; to suffice
in tennis, badminton, and similar games, to hit the ball or shuttle to an opponent in order to begin a period of play
(+ out) to win a set or match after serving for and winning the final game
if I remember correctly
to assist in performing a task or achieving a goal
to be the fate or punishment that somebody deserves
to be useful to somebody