1. An individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
   "there's enough for two servings each";
   - helping, portion
    
2. The act of delivering a writ or summons upon someone
   "The process server completed the serving of legal documents";
   - service, service of process

1. Act to fulfil a purpose, role, or function
   "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";
   - function
    
2. Do duty or hold office; perform a specific function
   "He served as head of the department for three years"; "She served in Congress for two terms"
    
3. Contribute or conduce to
   "The scandal served to increase his popularity"
    
4. Promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to
   "The lake serves recreation"; "The President's wisdom has served the country well"; "Art serves commerce"; "Their interests are served"
    
5. Provide (usually but not necessarily food)
   "We serve meals for the homeless"; "The entertainers served up a lively show";
   - serve up, dish out, dish up [informal], dish
    
6. Give a portion of food or drink
   "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself";
   - help
    
7. Be used by; as of a utility
   "The garage served to shelter his horses"; "The sewage plant served the neighbouring communities";
   - service
    
8. Devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas
   "serve the country"; "She served the art of music"; "He served the church"
    
9. Work for, or be a servant to
   "May I serve you?"; "The minister served the King for many years";
   - attend to, wait on, attend, assist, wait upon
    
10. Do military service
    "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted"
     
11. Spend time in prison or in a labour camp
    "He served six years for embezzlement";
    - do
     
12. Deliver a warrant or summons to someone
    "He was served by the sheriff";
    - process, swear out
     
13. Be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity
    "Nothing else will serve";
    - suffice, do, answer
     
14. (court game) put the ball into play
    "It was Agassi's turn to serve"
     
15. Mate with
    "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes";
    - service

Derived forms: servings

Type of: aid, assist, bringing, cater, copulate, couple, deliver, delivery, effect, effectuate, foster, fulfil [Brit, Cdn], fulfill [N. Amer], function, go, help, live up to, mate, move, nurture, operate, pair, pass, provide, put up, run, satisfy, set up, small indefinite amount, small indefinite quantity, spend, supply, work

Part of: meal, repast

Encyclopedia: Serving