serve
(sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play
- his powerful serves won the game
• Syn:
service
• Topics:
tennis, lawn tennis, badminton, squash, squash racquets, squash rackets
• Hypernyms:
tennis stroke, tennis shot
• Hyponyms:
ace, fault, let, net ball
1. serve a purpose, role, or function (Freq. 55)
- 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
• Syn:
function
• Derivationally related forms:
function (for: function)
• Hypernyms:
suffice, do, answer
• Hyponyms:
prelude, act as
• Verb Group:
service
• Verb Frames:
- Something ----s
- Somebody ----s
- Somebody ----s somebody
- Something ----s something
2. do duty or hold offices;
serve in a specific function (Freq. 36)
- He served as head of the department for three years
- She served in Congress for two terms
• Hypernyms:
work, do work
• Hyponyms:
sit, staff, act, rotate, officiate,
function, caddie, caddy, represent
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s
- Somebody ----s PP
3. contribute or conduce to (Freq. 24)
- The scandal served to increase his popularity
• Hypernyms:
effect, effectuate, set up
• Hyponyms:
help, facilitate
• Verb Group:
serve well
• Verb Frames:
- Something is ----ing PP
- Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
4. be used by;
as of a utility (Freq. 23)
- The sewage plant served the neighboring communities
- The garage served to shelter his horses
• Syn:
service
• Derivationally related forms:
service (for: service)
• Hypernyms:
function, work, operate, go, run
• Verb Group:
function
• Verb Frames:
- Something is ----ing PP
- Something ----s somebody
- Something ----s something
- Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
5. help to some food;
help with food or drink (Freq. 21)
- I served him three times, and after that he helped himself
• Syn:
help
• Derivationally related forms:
helping (for: help), server, serving
• Hypernyms:
provide, supply, ply, cater
• Verb Group:
serve up, dish out, dish up, dish
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s somebody
- Sam cannot serve Sue
6. provide (usually but not necessarily food) (Freq. 20)
- We serve meals for the homeless
- She dished out the soup at 8 P.M.
- The entertainers served up a lively show
• Syn:
serve up, dish out, dish up, dish
• Derivationally related forms:
dish (for: dish)
• Hypernyms:
provide, supply, ply, cater
• Hyponyms:
plank
• Verb Group:
help
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- The chefs serve the vegetables
7. devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas (Freq. 19)
- She served the art of music
- He served the church
- serve the country
• Hypernyms:
work
• Verb Group:
attend to, wait on, attend, assist
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- Somebody ----s somebody
8. promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to (Freq. 7)
- Art serves commerce
- Their interests are served
- The lake serves recreation
- The President's wisdom has served the country well
• Syn:
serve well
• Derivationally related forms:
servant
• Hypernyms:
foster, nurture
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- Something ----s somebody
- Something ----s something
9. work for or be a servant to (Freq. 3)
- 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
• Syn:
attend to, wait on, attend, assist
• Derivationally related forms:
assist (for: assist), attendant (for: attend), attender (for: attend), servant, servitor
• Hypernyms:
help, assist, aid
• Hyponyms:
valet, fag
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s somebody
- Somebody ----s somebody with something
- Sam cannot serve Sue
10. deliver a warrant or summons to someone (Freq. 3)
- He was processed by the sheriff
• Syn:
process, swear out
• Derivationally related forms:
process (for: process)
• Hypernyms:
deliver
• Hyponyms:
subpoena, wash, rinse
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- Somebody ----s somebody with something
11. spend time in prison or in a labor camp (Freq. 3)
- He did six years for embezzlement
• Syn:
do
• Hypernyms:
spend, pass
• Hyponyms:
admit
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- Somebody ----s PP
12. 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
• Syn:
suffice, do, answer
• Derivationally related forms:
sufficient (for: suffice), sufficiency (for: suffice)
• Hypernyms:
satisfy, fulfill, fulfil, live up to
• Hyponyms:
tide over, bridge over, keep going, go a long way, function,
qualify, measure up, go around
• Verb Frames:
- Something ----s
- It ----s that CLAUSE (for: suffice)
13. do military service
- She served in Vietnam
- My sons never served, because they are short-sighted
• Hypernyms:
work, do work
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s
14. mate with
- male animals serve the females for breeding purposes
• Syn:
service
• Derivationally related forms:
service (for: service), servicing (for: service)
• Hypernyms:
copulate, mate, pair, couple
• Hyponyms:
stand
• Verb Frames:
- Something ----s something
15. put the ball into play
- It was Agassi's turn to serve
• Derivationally related forms:
server
• Topics:
court game
• Hypernyms:
move, go
• Hyponyms:
ace
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s
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