serve

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

An act of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play in various games.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Whose serve is it?

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A portion of food or drink, a serving.

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

An impressive presentation (especially of a person's appearance).

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “serve” mean?

An act of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play in various games.

Is “serve” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.