The noun serve has 1 sense (no senses from tagged texts)
1. serve, service -- ((sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play; "his powerful serves won the game")
Overview of verb serve
The verb serve has 15 senses (first 11 from tagged texts)
1. (55) serve, function -- (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")
2. (36) serve -- (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")
3. (24) serve -- (contribute or conduce to; "The scandal served to increase his popularity")
4. (23) service, serve -- (be used by; as of a utility; "The sewage plant served the neighboring communities"; "The garage served to shelter his horses")
5. (21) serve, help -- (help to some food; help with food or drink; "I served him three times, and after that he helped himself")
6. (20) serve, serve up, dish out, dish up, dish -- (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")
7. (19) serve -- (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")
8. (7) serve, serve well -- (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")
9. (3) serve, do -- (spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years for embezzlement")
10. (3) serve, attend to, wait on, attend, assist -- (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")
11. (3) serve, process, swear out -- (deliver a warrant or summons to someone; "He was processed by the sheriff")
12. suffice, do, answer, serve -- (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")
13. serve -- (do military service; "She served in Vietnam"; "My sons never served, because they are short-sighted")
14. serve, service -- (mate with; "male animals serve the females for breeding purposes")
15. serve -- (put the ball into play; "It was Agassi's turn to serve")