serve
/sɜrv/
noun
- The act of hitting a ball to start play in tennis, volleyball, or similar sports.
- Practice your serve before the tournament.
- He lost the match because his serve kept failing.
- Her serve is incredibly powerful.
verb
- To perform duties or provide help for someone, especially as an employee or assistant.
- He served his country as a soldier for two decades.
- The waiter served us dinner with a smile.
- She served the family as a nanny for ten years.
- To present food or drink to someone.
- The restaurant serves breakfast all day.
- They served coffee and cake after the meeting.
- Please serve the soup while it's still hot.
- To be used for a particular purpose; to function as something.
- The old barn serves as a storage space.
- Her advice served to calm everyone down.
- This box can serve as a table for now.
- To spend a period of time in a particular role, especially in an official capacity or in prison.
- He served three years in the Senate.
- She served as the club's treasurer for two terms.
- The criminal served a five-year sentence.
- To hit a ball to start play in sports like tennis, volleyball, or badminton.
- She served the ball with great speed.
- He served an ace that the opponent couldn't return.
- It's your turn to serve in this game.