serve in WordNet English dictionary

1. 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"
   suffice  do  answer  serve 
   
2. work for or be a servant to
   "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"
   serve  attend to  wait on  attend  assist 
   
3. provide (usually but not necessarily food)
   "We serve meals for the homeless"; "She dished out the soup at 8 P.M."; "The entertainers served up a lively show"
   serve  serve up  dish out  dish up  dish 
   
4. spend time in prison or in a labor camp
   "He did six years for embezzlement"
   serve  do 
   
5. serve 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"; "The table functions as a desk"
   serve  function 
   
6. help to some food; help with food or drink
   "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself"
   serve  help 
   
7. deliver a warrant or summons to someone
   "He was processed by the sheriff"
   serve  process  swear out 
   
8. do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function
   "He served as head of the department for three years"; "She served in Congress for two terms"
   serve 
   
9. put the ball into play
   "It was Agassi's turn to serve"
   serve 
   
10. mate with
    "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes"
    serve  service 
    
11. be used by; as of a utility
    "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses"
    service  serve 
    
12. devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas
    "She served the art of music"; "He served the church"; "serve the country"
    serve 
    
13. do military service
    "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted"
    serve 
    
14. contribute or conduce to
    "The scandal served to increase his popularity"
    serve 
    
15. promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to
    "Art serves commerce"; "Their interests are served"; "The lake serves recreation"; "The President's wisdom has served the country well"
    serve  serve well 
    

1. (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play
   "his powerful serves won the game"
   serve  service