[ I/T ] (esp. of a person working in a restaurant or store) to help a customer by getting what someone needs or by showing or selling goods, or to provide food or drinks to a customer or guest:

[ I/T ] To serve is also to provide an area or group of people with something that is needed:

[ I/T ] to work for, or to carry out your duty:

[ T ] to spend a period of time in a job or activity:

[ I/T ] to help achieve something, or to be useful as something:

[ I/T ] (in tennis and other sports) to hit the ball to the other player or team as a way of starting play

(in tennis and other sports) the act of hitting the ball to the other player or team to start play :

[ T ] to provide people or a place with products or services or something that is needed:

[ I or T ] to help achieve something or to be useful as something:

[ T ] COMMERCE in a shop, restaurant, or hotel, to deal with a customer by taking their order, showing or selling them goods, etc.:

[ I or T ] to provide food or drinks:

[ I or T ] to spend time doing a job, training for a job, or having a responsibility:

[ T ] LAW to give a legal document to someone, demanding that they go to a court of law or that they obey an order: