serve

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a stroke that puts the ball in play

   My powerful serves won the game.

2. 2
   verb

   put the ball into play

   It was Agassi's turn to serve

3. 3
   verb

   do duty or hold offices

   serve in a specific function

4. 4
   verb

   provide (usually but not necessarily food)

   We serve meals for the homeless

5. 5
   verb

   mate with

   male animals serve the females for breeding purposes

6. 6
   verb

   do military service

   I served two tours in Vietnam.

7. 7
   verb

   work for or be a servant to

   May I serve you?

8. 8
   verb

   devote one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas

   I served the art of music.

Etymology

From Middle English serven, from Old French servir, from Latin serviō (“be a slave; serve”), from Latin servus (“slave; servant”), which perhaps derives from Etruscan (compare Etruscan proper names 𐌔𐌄𐌓𐌅𐌉 (servi), 𐌔𐌄𐌓𐌅𐌄 (serve)), or from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“watch over, protect”).