[səːv], (Verb)

Definitions:
- perform duties or services for (another person or an organization)
(e.g: Malcolm has served the church very faithfully)

- present (food or drink) to someone
(e.g: they serve wine instead of beer)

- deliver (a document such as a summons or writ) in a formal manner to the person to whom it is addressed
(e.g: he said his lawyer would serve a writ to the multinational corporation within a week)

- be of use in achieving or satisfying
(e.g: this book will serve a useful purpose)

- (in tennis and other racket sports) hit the ball or shuttlecock to begin play for each point of a game
(e.g: he tossed the ball up to serve)

- bind (a rope) with thin cord to protect or strengthen it

- operate (a gun)
(e.g: before long Lodge was the only man in his section able to serve the guns)


Phrases:
- if my memory serves me
- serve at table
- serve one's time
- serve one's/its turn
- serve someone right
- serve two masters

Origin:
Middle English: from Old French servir, from Latin servire, from servus ‘slave’

[səːv], (Noun)

Definitions:
- (in tennis and other racket sports) an act of hitting the ball or shuttlecock to start play
(e.g: he was let down by an erratic serve)

- a reprimand
(e.g: he would be willing to give the country a serve in an English newspaper)


Phrases:
- if my memory serves me
- serve at table
- serve one's time
- serve one's/its turn
- serve someone right
- serve two masters

Origin:
Middle English: from Old French servir, from Latin servire, from servus ‘slave’