service Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun work done by one person or group that benefits another
    • budget separately for goods and services
  2. noun an act of help or assistance
    • he did them a service
  3. noun the act of public worship following prescribed rules
    religious service; divine service.
    • the Sunday service
  4. noun a company or agency that performs a public service; subject to government regulation
  5. noun employment in or work for another
    • he retired after 30 years of service
  6. noun a force that is a branch of the armed forces
    armed service; military service.
  7. noun Canadian writer (born in England) who wrote about life in the Yukon Territory (1874-1958)
    Robert William Service.
  8. noun a means of serving
    avail; help.
    • of no avail
    • there's no help for it
  9. noun tableware consisting of a complete set of articles (silver or dishware) for use at table
    table service.
  10. noun the act of mating by male animals
    servicing.
    • the bull was worth good money in servicing fees
  11. noun (law) the acts performed by an English feudal tenant for the benefit of his lord which formed the consideration for the property granted to him
  12. noun (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play
    serve.
    • his powerful serves won the game
  13. noun the act of delivering a writ or summons upon someone
    service of process; serving.
    • he accepted service of the subpoena
  14. noun periodic maintenance on a car or machine
    inspection and repair; overhaul.
    • it was time for an overhaul on the tractor
  15. noun the performance of duties by a waiter or servant
    • that restaurant has excellent service
  16. verb be used by; as of a utility
    serve.
    • The sewage plant served the neighboring communities
    • The garage served to shelter his horses
  17. verb make fit for use
    • service my truck
    • the washing machine needs to be serviced
  18. verb mate with
    serve.
    • male animals serve the females for breeding purposes

WordNet

Serv"ice, Serv"ice noun (Also<
  • Service
  • Service
)
Etymology
Properly, the tree which bears serve, OE. serves, pl., service berries, AS. syrfe service tree; akin to L. sorbus.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A name given to several trees and shrubs of the genus Pyrus, as Pyrus domestica and P. torminalis of Europe, the various species of mountain ash or rowan tree, and the American shad bush (see Shad bush, under Shad). They have clusters of small, edible, applelike berries.
Serv"ice noun
Etymology
OE. servise, OF. servise, service, F. service, from L. servitium. See Serve.
Definitions
  1. The act of serving; the occupation of a servant; the performance of labor for the benefit of another, or at another's command; attendance of an inferior, hired helper. slave, etc., on a superior, employer, master, or the like; also, spiritual obedience and love. "O God . . . whose service is perfect freedom." Bk. of Com. Prayer.
    Madam, I entreat true peace of you, Which I will purchase with my duteous service. Shak.
    God requires no man's service upon hard and unreasonable terms. Tillotson.
  2. The deed of one who serves; labor performed for another; duty done or required; office.
    I have served him from the hour of my nativity, . . . and have nothing at his hands for my service but blows. Shak.
    This poem was the last piece of service I did for my master, King Charles. Dryden.
    To go on the forlorn hope is a service of peril; who will understake it if it be not also a service of honor? Macaulay.
  3. Office of devotion; official religious duty performed; religious rites appropriate to any event or ceremonial; as, a burial service.
    The outward service of ancient religion, the rites, ceremonies, and ceremonial vestments of the old law. Coleridge.
  4. Hence, a musical composition for use in churches.
  5. Duty performed in, or appropriate to, any office or charge; official function; hence, specifically, military or naval duty; performance of the duties of a soldier.
    When he cometh to experience of service abroad . . . ne maketh a worthy soldier. Spenser.
  6. Useful office; advantage conferred; that which promotes interest or happiness; benefit; avail.
    The stork's plea, when taken in a net, was the service she did in picking up venomous creatures. L'Estrange.
  7. Profession of respect; acknowledgment of duty owed. "Pray, do my service to his majesty." Shak.
  8. The act and manner of bringing food to the persons who eat it; order of dishes at table; also, a set or number of vessels ordinarily used at table; as, the service was tardy and awkward; a service of plate or glass.
    There was no extraordinary service seen on the board. Hakewill.
  9. (Law) The act of bringing to notice, either actually or constructively, in such manner as is prescribed by law; as, the service of a subp&oe;na or an attachment.
  10. (Naut.) The materials used for serving a rope, etc., as spun yarn, small lines, etc.
  11. (Tennis) The act of serving the ball.
  12. Act of serving or covering. See Serve, v. t., 13.

Webster 1913