sports A stroke that puts the ball in play:
— His powerful serves won the game.

synonym: service.

Dutch: opslaan, opslag, service
Polish: serwis, zagrywka, serw

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.

synonym: function.

Roget 749: be subject etc. adj.; be at the mercy of, lie at the mercy of; depend upon, lean upon, hang upon; fall a prey to, fall under; play second fiddle.    be a mere machine, be a puppet, be a football; not dare to say one's soul is his own; drag a chain.    serve etc. 746; obey etc. 743; submit etc. 725.    break in, tame; subject, subjugate; master etc. 731; tread down, tread under foot; weigh down; drag at one's chariot wheels; reduce to subjection, reduce to slavery; enthrall, inthrall^†, bethrall^†; enslave, lead captive; take into custody etc. (restrain) 751; rule etc. 737; drive into a corner, hold at the sword's point; keep under; hold in bondage, hold in leading strings, hold in swaddling clothes.    ... show more

Roget 746: serve; wait upon, attend upon, dance attendance upon, pin oneself upon; squire, tend, hang on the sleeve of; chore [U.S.].   

Roget 722: arm; raise troops, mobilize troops; raise up in arms; take up the cudgels etc. 720; take up arms, fly to arms, appeal to arms, fly to the sword; draw the sword, unsheathe the sword; dig up the hatchet, dig up the tomahawk; go to war, wage war, let slip the dogs of war" [Julius Caesar]; cry havoc; kindle the torch of war, light the torch of war; raise one's banner, raise the fire cross; hoist the black flag; throw away, fling away the scabbard; enroll, enlist; take the field; take the law into one's own hands; do battle, give battle, join battle, engage in battle, go to battle; flesh one's sword; set to, fall to, engage, measure swords with, draw the trigger, cross swords; come to blows, come to close quarters; fight; combat; contend etc. 720; battle with, break a lance with.    [pirates engage in battle] raise the jolly roger, run up the jolly roger.    serve; see service, be on service, be on active service; campaign; wield the sword, shoulder a musket, smell powder, be under fire; spill blood, imbrue the hands in blood; on the warpath.    carry on war, carry on hostilities; keep the field; fight the good fight; fight it out, fight like devils, fight one's way, fight hand to hand; sell one's life dearly; pay the ferryman's fee.    ... show more

Roget 743: be obedient etc. adj.; obey, bear obedience to; submit etc. 725; comply, answer the helm, come at one's call; do one's bidding, do what one is told, do suit and service; attend to orders, serve faithfully.    follow the lead of, follow to the world's end; serve etc. 746; play second fiddle.    ... show more

Dutch: dienen, figureren, functioneren, fungeren

Do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function.

Contribute or conduce to.

Be used by; as of a utility:
— The sewage plant served the neighboring communities.
— The garage served to shelter his horses.

synonym: service.

Roget 625: pass one's time in, employ one's time in, spend one's time in; employ oneself in, employ oneself upon; occupy oneself with, concern oneself with; make it one's business etc. n.; undertake etc. 676; enter a profession; betake oneself to, turn one's hand to; have to do with etc. (do) 680.    office, place, post, chargeship^†, incumbency, living; situation, berth, employ; service etc. (servitude) 749; engagement; undertaking etc. 676.    drive a trade; carry on a trade, do a trade, transact a trade, carry on business, do business, transact business etc. n.; keep a shop; ply one's task, ply one's trade; labor in one's vocation; pursue the even tenor of one's way; attend to business, attend to one's work.    officiate, serve, act; act one's part, play one's part; do duty; serve the office of, discharge the office of, perform the office of, perform the duties of, perform the functions of; hold an office, fill an office, fill a place, fill a situation; hold a portfolio, hold a place, hold a situation.    be about, be doing, be engaged in, be employed in, be occupied with, be at work on; have one's hands in, have in hand; have on one's hands, have on one's shoulders; bear the burden; have one's hands full etc. (activity) 682.    be in the hands of, be on the stocks, be on the anvil; pass through one's hands.    ... show more

Help to some food; help with food or drink:
— I served him three times, and after that he helped himself.

synonym: help.

Provide (usually but not necessarily food):
— We serve meals for the homeless.
— The entertainers served up a lively show.

synonyms: dish, dish out, dish up, serve up.

Dutch: dienen, dissen, opdienen, opdissen, opdoen, serveren, voorschotelen, voorzetten

Devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas.

Dutch: dienen

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.

synonym: serve well.

Spend time in prison or in a labor camp.

synonym: do.

Dutch: eraan

Work for or be a servant to:
— May I serve you?.
— The minister served the King for many years.

synonyms: assist, attend, attend to, wait on.

Roget 707: aid, assist, help, succor, lend one's aid; come to the aid etc. n.. of; contribute, subscribe to; bring aid, give aid, furnish aid, afford aid, supply aid etc. n.; give a helping hand, stretch a hand, lend a helping hand, lend a hand, bear a helping hand, hold out a hand, hold out a helping hand; give one a life, give one a cast, give one a turn; take by the hand, take in tow; help a lame dog over a stile, lend wings to.    relieve, rescue; set up, set agoing^†, set on one's legs; bear through, pull through; give new life to, be the making of; reinforce, reenforce, recruit; set forward, put forward, push forward; give a lift, give a shove, give an impulse to; promote, further, forward, advance expedite, speed, quicken, hasten.    support, sustain, uphold, prop, hold up, bolster.    cradle, nourish; nurture, nurse, dry nurse, suckle, put out to nurse; manure, cultivate, force; foster, cherish, foment; feed the flame, fan the flame.    serve; do service to, tender to, pander to; administer to, subminister to^†, minister to; tend, attend, wait on; take care of etc. 459; entertain; smooth the bed of death.    oblige, accommodate, consult the wishes of; humor, cheer, encourage.    second, stand by; back, back up; pay the piper, abet; work for, make interest for, stick up for, take up the cudgels for; take up the cause of, espouse the cause of, adopt the cause of; advocate, beat up for recruits, press into the service; squire, give moral support to, keep in countenance, countenance, patronize; lend oneself to, lend one's countenance to; smile upon, shine upon; favor, befriend, take in hand, enlist under the banners of; side with etc. (cooperate) 709.    be of use to; subserve etc. (instrument) 631; benefit etc. 648; render a service etc. (utility) 644; conduce etc. (tend) 176.    ... show more

Dutch: opdienen, serveren

Deliver a warrant or summons to someone.

synonyms: process, swear out.

Be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity:
— Nothing else will serve.

synonyms: answer, do, suffice.

Roget 644: be useful etc. adj.; avail, serve; subserve etc. (be instrumental to) 631; conduce etc. (tend) 176; answer, serve one's turn, answer a purpose, serve a purpose.    act a part etc. (action) 680; perform a function, discharge a function &c.; render a service, render good service, render yeoman's service; bestead^†, stand one in good stead be the making of; help etc. 707.    bear fruit etc. (produce) 161; bring grist to the mill; profit, remunerate; benefit etc. (do good) 648.    find one's account in, find one's advantage in; reap the benefit of etc. (be better for) 658.    render useful etc. (use) 677.    ... show more

Dutch: volstaan, [[het]] [[ermee]] [[doen]]

Do military service.

Mate with:
— Male animals serve the females for breeding purposes.

synonym: service.

Put the ball into play.