serves

Noun

• (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play
  • "his powerful serves won the game"
• (Middle Ages) a person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord
• plural of serve

Verb

• serve a purpose, role, or function
  • "The tree stump serves as a table"
• do duty or hold offices; serve in a specific function
• contribute or conduce to
• be used by; as of a utility
• help to some food; help with food or drink
• provide (usually but not necessarily food)
• devote (part of) one's life or efforts to, as of countries, institutions, or ideas
• promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to
  • "Art serves commerce"
  • "The lake serves recreation"
• spend time in prison or in a labor camp
• work for or be a servant to
• deliver a warrant or summons to someone
• be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity
• do military service
• mate with
• put the ball into play
• third-person singular simple present indicative of serve

Examples

• His serves did not clear the volleyball net.

Synonyms

answer, assist, attend, attend to, dish, dish out, dish up, do, function, helot, help, process, serf, serve, serve up, serve well, service, suffice, swear out, villein, wait on