Serving

noun
1.
the act of a person or thing that serves.
2.
a single portion of food or drink; helping.
3.
Electricity. a layer of material, as jute yarn or tape, that is applied to the core or the exterior of a lead-covered cable and acts as a protective covering.
adjective
4.
for use in distributing food to or at the table:
a serving tray.
verb (used without object), served, serving.
1.
to act as a servant.
2.
to wait on table, as a waiter.
3.
to offer or have a meal or refreshments available, as for patrons or guests:
Come early, we’re serving at six.
4.
to offer or distribute a portion or portions of food or a beverage, as a host or hostess:
It was her turn to serve at the faculty tea.
5.
to render assistance; be of use; help.
6.
to go through a term of service, do duty as a soldier, sailor, senator, juror, etc.
7.
to have definite use:
This cup will serve as a sugar bowl.
8.
to answer the purpose:
That will serve to explain my actions.
9.
(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put the ball or shuttlecock in play with a stroke, swing, or hit.
10.
to be favorable, suitable, or convenient, as weather or time.
11.
Ecclesiastical. to act as a server.
verb (used with object), served, serving.
12.
to be in the service of; work for.
13.
to be useful or of service to; help.
14.
to go through (a term of service, imprisonment, etc.).
15.
to render active service to (a sovereign, commander, etc.).
16.
to render obedience or homage to (God, a sovereign, etc.).
17.
to perform the duties of (a position, an office, etc.):
to serve his mayoralty.
18.
to answer the requirements of; suffice:
This will serve our needs for the moment.
19.
to contribute to; promote:
to serve a cause.
20.
to wait upon at table; act as a waiter or waitress to.
21.
to carry and distribute (portions of food or drink) to a patron or a specific table, as a waiter or waitress.
22.
to act as a host or hostess in offering (a person) a portion of food or drink:
May I serve you with some tea and cake?
23.
to act as a host or hostess in offering or distributing (a portion or portions of food or drink) to another:
They served tea and cake to their guests.
24.
to provide with a regular or continuous supply of something.
25.
(in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.) to put (the ball or shuttlecock) in play.
26.
to treat in a specified manner:
That served him ill.
27.
Law.

to make legal delivery of (a process or writ).
to present (a person) with a writ.

28.
to gratify (desire, wants, needs, etc.).
29.
(of a male animal) to mate with; service.
30.
to operate or keep in action (a gun, artillery, etc.).
31.
Nautical. to wrap (a rope) tightly with small stuff, keeping the turns as close together as possible.
noun
32.
the act, manner, or right of serving, as in tennis.
Idioms
33.
serve one right, to treat one as one deserves, especially to punish justly:
It will serve you right if she never speaks to you again.
noun
1.
a portion or helping of food or drink
verb
1.
to be in the service of (a person)
2.
to render or be of service to (a person, cause, etc); help
3.
(in a shop) to give (customers) information about articles for sale and to hand over articles purchased
4.
(transitive) to provide (guests, customers, etc) with food, drink, etc: she served her guests with cocktails
5.
to distribute or provide (food, drink, etc) for guests, customers, etc: do you serve coffee?
6.
(transitive) sometimes foll by up. to present (food, drink, etc) in a specified manner: cauliflower served with cheese sauce
7.
(transitive) to provide with a regular supply of
8.
(transitive) to work actively for: to serve the government
9.
(transitive) to pay homage to: to serve God
10.
to answer the requirements of; suit: this will serve my purpose
11.
(intransitive; may take an infinitive) to have a use; function: this wood will serve to build a fire
12.
to go through (a period of service, enlistment, imprisonment, etc)
13.
(intransitive) (of weather, conditions, etc) to be favourable or suitable
14.
(transitive) Also service. (of a male animal) to copulate with (a female animal)
15.
(sport) to put (the ball) into play
16.
(intransitive) (RC Church) to act as server at Mass or other services
17.
(transitive) to deliver (a legal document, esp a writ or summons) to (a person)
18.
to provide (a machine, etc) with an impulse or signal for control purposes or with a continuous supply of fuel, working material, etc
19.
(transitive) (nautical) to bind (a rope, spar, etc) with wire or fine cord to protect it from chafing, etc See also seize (sense 8)
20.
(informal) serve a person right, to pay a person back, esp for wrongful or foolish treatment or behaviour
noun
21.
(sport) short for service1 (sense 17)
22.
(Austral) a portion or helping of food or drink