释义 |
ser·vice I. \ˈsərvə̇s, ˈsə̄v-, ˈsəiv- dial ˈsärv- or ˈsȧv-\ noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English servise, service, from Old French, from Latin servitium condition of a slave, servitude, body of slaves or servants, from servus slave + -itium -ice — more at serve 1. : the condition or occupation of a servant : the serving of a master: as a. : the position of a domestic servant < the daughters of yeoman and peasant alike could take service with the wife of a squire who had known them all their lives — Roy Lewis & Angus Maude > b. : the domestic employment of a particular master < entered the service of a wealthy townsman > 2. : the performance of work commanded or paid for by another : a servant's duty : attendance on a superior < most true, I have lost my teeth in your service — Shakespeare > 3. a. : the employment of a public servant < distinguished himself in his country's service > b. : a specified branch or department of government employment or the staff of persons working in it < consular service > < intelligence service > c. : the duties, work, or business performed or discharged by a government official 4. a. : one of a nation's organized fighting forces (as the army, navy, or air force) b. : the performance of military duty especially in war : combat < saw active service in several campaigns > c. : a particular military operation : campaign, engagement, expedition d. : the profession or career of arms : the occupation of a soldier, sailor, or military flier 5. a. : an act done for the benefit or at the command of another < impose some service on me for thy love — Shakespeare > < felt that to avenge his friend's death was the only service he could still do him > b. : the constancy, attentions, or devotion of a lover for his lady 6. a. : the habit or practice of serving God or the acts done with that intention < devoted himself altogether to the service of God > b. : a form or ritual of worship (as public worship) established for customary use, celebration, or observance c. : the performance of religious worship especially according to settled public forms or conventions d. : an assembly or meeting for worship e. : rites (as religious rites) appropriate to a particular event < a burial service > < a marriage service > f. : a liturgical office set to music : a set of such settings especially of the choral canticles and chants 7. a. : the bringing of food and drink to diners seated at table : the work or activity of waiting at table < it was a small place but the service was excellent > b. (1) : the food and drink apportioned to one person (2) obsolete : course c. : the dishes, implements, or utensils needed to serve a meal, a specified number of persons, or a particular food or drink < purchased a silver service for 12 > d. : a set of vessels used at the altar in celebrating communion < the silver Eucharistic service … was saved by being hidden in a cistern — American Guide Series: Louisiana > e. : a set of implements and vessels for use in the toilet : dresser set 8. : the return in money, in kind, or in labor owed by a feudal tenant to his lord for the enjoyment of his tenancy : render 9. a. : action or use that furthers some end or purpose : conduct or performance that assists or benefits someone or something : deeds useful or instrumental toward some object < the pioneer-baiters do the country a service — Russell Lord > < did me a valuable service > b. : professional or other useful ministrations < legal services > < a bill collection service > c. : supply of needs < a vending machine set up for the service of casual passersby > also : utility 10. archaic : a profession of respect or duty — used in various expressions of courtesy (as in greetings or in toasts) 11. : the act of putting the ball in play in any of various net or court games (as tennis) 12. : an act of administering or applying something 13. : the wrapping or covering of a rope (as with spun yarn, small lines, or canvas) to prevent chafing; also : the materials used for this purpose 14. a. : useful labor that does not produce a tangible commodity — usually used in plural < railroads, telephone companies, and physicians perform services although they produce no goods > b. : debt service c. : a facility or provision for maintenance and repair (as of houses or manufactured articles) < property service > < radio and television service > < automobile repair service > d. : the provision, organization, or apparatus for conducting a public utility or meeting a general demand < telephone service > < air freight service > 15. a. : the act of bringing a legal writ, process, or summons to notice actually or constructively as prescribed by law < accepted service of a subpoena > b. : the carrying into effect or execution of a writ or process (as an attachment by seizing the goods or person attached or an execution by levying it upon the goods or person of the defendant) — compare personal service 1, substituted service 16. : the act of serving or covering the female — used of a male animal 17. : a regularly scheduled trip over a public transportation route < three airline services daily between island and mainland > 18. : a branch of a hospital medical staff devoted to a particular specialty < obstetric service > < pediatric service > 19. a. : a pipe branching from a gas or water main to serve the premises of a user b. : the lead-in conductors from an electric power or telephone line to a user's premises 20. : effort inspired by philanthropic motives or directed to human welfare or betterment Synonyms: see use • - at one's service - of service II. adjective 1. a. : of or relating to the armed services or one of them : belonging to or used in the army, navy, or air force < a service newspaper > b. : of, relating to, or constituting a branch of an army (as an ordinance department) that exists to serve or supply the army's fighting men 2. : of or relating to domestic service : used in serving or by servants < a service hatch > 3. : worn in or intended for everyday use : durable < service-weight stockings > 4. a. : providing services rather than tangible goods < transportation and entertainment are service industries > b. : offering a product useful only in making another product or in performing associated tasks or services < diemakers and allied service industries — New Englander > c. : offering repair, maintenance, or incidental services III. transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) : to perform services for : meet the needs of : serve: as a. : to repair or provide maintenance for < I've had some dealings with them in the servicing of my English car — Richard Joseph > b. : to meet interest and sinking fund payments on (as government debt) c. : to perform any of the business functions auxiliary to production or distribution of < the accounting department services the manufacturing and sales programs > d. : to provide information or other assistance to < for many years the Department of State has serviced the press and the scholars interested in foreign affairs — F.H.Russell > e. : to provide (a philatelic cover) with first-day cancellation or cachet f. : to copulate with (a female animal) < deer are polygamous and one buck may claim and service several does — Lyle St. Amant & Carrol Perkins > IV. noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English serves, plural of serve service tree, fruit of the service, from Old English syrfe, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin sorbea, from Latin sorbus service tree, sorb tree 1. : service tree 1 2. : the fruit of a service tree |