serve

I

n. (tennis)

1) the serve was good; long; out

2) a serve to (a serve to the backhand)

II

v.

1) (A) ('to bring') she served dinner to us; or: she served us dinner

2) (d; intr.) to serve as ('to fulfill the functions of') (his illness served as an excuse; to serve as mayor)

3) (D; intr.) to serve on ('to be a member of') (to serve on a jury)

4) (D; tr.) to serve on ('to deliver to') (to serve a summons on smb.)

5) (tennis) (D; intr.) ('to put the ball in play') to serve to (I hate to serve to her -- she always returns the ball to my backhand)

6) (D; intr.) ('to be in service') to serve under (he served directly under a general)

7) (d; tr.) to serve with ('to deliver to') (to serve smb. with a summons)

8) (E) ('to have an effect') it served to calm everyone's nerves

9) (misc.) it serves him right ('he got what he deserved')

* * *

[sɜːv]

long

or: she served us dinner

out

(A) ('to bring') she serve d dinner to us

(E) ('to have an effect') it served to calm everyone's nerves

(tennis) the serve was good

(misc.) it serves him right ('he got what he deserved')

(tennis) (D; intr.) ('to put the ball in play') to serve to (I hate to serve to her serve she always returns the ball to my backhand)

a serve to (a serve to the backhand)

(D; intr.) ('to be in service') to serve under (he served directly under a general)

(d; intr.) to serve as (his illness served as an excuse; to serve as mayor; 'to fulfill the functions of)

(D; tr.) to serve on (to serve a summons on smb.; 'to deliver to')

(D; intr.) to serve on (to serve on a jury; 'to be a member of)

(d; tr.) to serve with (to serve smb. with a summons; 'to deliver to')