verb

 

food/drink to give someone food or drink, especially guests or customers in a restaurant or bar

We're not allowed to serve alcohol to anyone under 18.

 

shop to help customers and sell things to them in a shop

Are you being served?

 

work to do work that helps society, for example in an organization such as the army or the government

to serve in the army

 

be useful to be useful as something

It's a very entertaining film but it also serves an educational purpose.

 

prison to be in prison for a period of time

Williams, 42, is serving a four-year jail sentence.

 

sport in a sport such as tennis, to throw the ball up into the air and then hit it towards the other player