What is the meaning of serve?

noun

• Sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play. (
  • usage: "his powerful serves won the game"
  • synonyms: service

verb

• Serve a purpose, role, or function.
  • usage: "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"
  • synonyms: function
• Do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function.
  • usage: "He served as head of the department for three years"; "She served in Congress for two terms"
• Contribute or conduce to.
  • usage: "The scandal served to increase his popularity"
• Be used by; as of a utility.
  • usage: "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses"
  • synonyms: service
• Help to some food; help with food or drink.
  • usage: "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself"
  • synonyms: help
• Provide (usually but not necessarily food. )
  • usage: "We serve meals for the homeless"; "She dished out the soup at 8 P. M."; "The entertainers served up a lively show"
  • synonyms: serve up, dish out, dish up, dish
• Devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas.
  • usage: "She served the art of music"; "He served the church"; "serve the country"
• Promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to.
  • usage: "Art serves commerce"; "Their interests are served"; "The lake serves recreation"; "The President's wisdom has served the country well"
  • synonyms: serve well
• Spend time in prison or in a labor camp.
  • usage: "He did six years for embezzlement"
  • synonyms: do
• Work for or be a servant to.
  • usage: "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"
  • synonyms: attend to, wait on, attend, assist
• Deliver a warrant or summons to someone.
  • usage: "He was processed by the sheriff"
  • synonyms: process, swear out
• Be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity.
  • usage: "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"
  • synonyms: suffice, do, answer
• Do military service.
  • usage: "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted"
• Mate with.
  • usage: "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes"
  • synonyms: service
• Put the ball into play.
  • usage: "It was Agassi's turn to serve"