Definition of serve

• (sports) a stroke that puts the ball in play; "his powerful serves won the game"
• 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"
• 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"