Service

UK: /ˈsɜːvɪs/ US: /ˈsɝvɪs/ ,(sûr′vis)

Inflections of 'service' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

services

v 3rd person singular

servicing

v pres p

serviced

v past

serviced

v past p

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Service / ˈsɜːvɪs/ noun

1. Robert (William). 1874–1958, Canadian poet, born in England; noted for his ballad-like poems of gold-rush era Yukon, such as 'The Shooting of Dan McGrew'; his books include Songs of a Sourdough (1907)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

serv•ice¹ /ˈsɜrvɪs/   n., adj., v., -iced, -ic•ing. 
n. 

1. the performance of duties, or the duties performed, as by a servant:
   [uncountable] The restaurant has terrible food and even worse service.
2. (an act of) helpful activity;
   aid:
   [countable] to do someone a service.
   [uncountable] Let me know if I can be of service.
3. the supplying or supplier of utilities or goods for a public need, such as water, electricity, etc.:
   [uncountable] improved bus service.
4. the providing or a provider of care required by the public, such as repair:
   [uncountable] had to bring the air conditioner in for service at least three times.
   [countable] a television repair service.
5. Government employment in any duties or work for a person, organization, etc.:
   [uncountable] a long term of service with the insurance company.
6. Government a department of public employment, or the body of public servants in it:
   [countable] the diplomatic service.
7. Military the armed forces:
   [uncountable] He was in the service during the war.
   [countable] Which one of the services were you in?
8. Often, services. [plural] the performance of any duties or work for another:
   medical services.
9. something made or done by a commercial organization for the public and without regard to profit:
   [countable] Those pamphlets on energy are published as a public service by a paint manufacturer.
10. Religion a form of public religious worship according to a certain form and order:
    [countable] Sunday morning services.
11. a set of dishes, utensils, etc., for use:
    [countable] a lunch service for two.

adj. [before a noun]

12. of service;
    useful.
13. of or relating to servants, delivery people, etc., or in serving food:
    a service elevator.
14. supplying services rather than products or goods:
    the service professions.
15. supplying or providing maintenance and repair:
    a service center for appliances.

v. [~ + object]

16. to make fit for use:
    to service an automobile.
17. to supply with aid, information, or other services.

See -serv-¹.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

serv•ice¹  (sûr′vis), n., adj., v., -iced, -ic•ing. 
n. 

1. an act of helpful activity;
   help;
   aid:
   to do someone a service.
2. the supplying or supplier of utilities or commodities, as water, electricity, or gas, required or demanded by the public.
3. the providing or a provider of accommodation and activities required by the public, as maintenance, repair, etc.:
   The manufacturer guarantees service and parts.
4. the organized system of apparatus, appliances, employees, etc., for supplying some accommodation required by the public:
   a television repair service.
5. the supplying or a supplier of public communication and transportation:
   telephone service; bus service.
6. the performance of duties or the duties performed as or by a waiter or servant;
   occupation or employment as a waiter or servant.
7. Government employment in any duties or work for a person, organization, government, etc.
8. Government a department of public employment, an administrative division of a government, or the body of public servants in it:
   the diplomatic service.
9. Government the duty or work of public servants.
10. Government the serving of a sovereign, state, or government in some official capacity.
11. Military
    • the armed forces:
      in the service.
    • Military a branch of the armed forces, as the army or navy:
      Which service were you in during the war?
12. Military [Ordn.] the actions required in loading and firing a cannon:
    service of the piece.
13. Often, services. the performance of any duties or work for another;
    helpful or professional activity:
    medical services.
14. something made or done by a commercial organization for the public benefit and without regard to direct profit:
    Certain books are published at a loss as a public service.
15. Religion Also called divine service. public religious worship according to prescribed form and order.
16. Religion a ritual or form prescribed for public worship or for some particular occasion:
    the marriage service.
17. Religion the serving of God by obedience, piety, etc.:
    voluntary service.
18. Music and Dance a musical setting of the sung portions of a liturgy.
19. a set of dishes, utensils, etc., for general table use or for particular use:
    a tea service; service for eight.
20. See answering service. 
21. Law the serving of a process or writ upon a person.
22. Nautical, Naval Terms tarred spun yarn or other small stuff for covering the exterior of a rope.
23. Sport (in tennis, badminton, handball, etc.)
    • the act or manner of putting the ball or shuttlecock into play;
      serve.
    • the ball or shuttlecock as put into play.
24. Zoology the mating of a female animal with the male.
25. at someone's service, ready to be of help or use to someone;
    at one's disposal:
    You will have an English-speaking guide at your service.
26. be of service, to be helpful or useful:
    If we can be of service, do not hesitate to call.

adj. 
27. of service;
    useful.
28. of, pertaining to, or used by servants, delivery people, etc., or in serving food:
    service stairs; the service pieces in a set of dishes.
29. supplying aids or services rather than products or goods:
    Medicine is one of the service professions.
30. supplying maintenance and repair:
    He operates a service center for electrical appliances.
31. of, for, or pertaining to the armed forces of a country or one of them:
    a service academy.
32. charged for providing service:
    a service fee of 15 percent on the restaurant check.
33. providing, authorizing, or guaranteeing service:
    a service industry; a service contract.

v.t. 
34. to make fit for use;
    repair;
    restore to condition for service:
    to service an automobile.
35. to supply with aid, information, or other incidental services.
36. (of a male animal) to mate with (a female animal).
37. Banking, Business [Finance.] to pay off (a debt) over a period of time, as by meeting periodic interest payments.
• Old French servise, variant of service
• Latin servitium servitude, equivalent. to serv(us) slave + -itium -ice; replacing Middle English servise, late Old English serfise ceremony
• Old French
• Middle English (noun, nominal) bef. 1100

serv•ice²  (sûr′vis), n. 

1. Plant Biology a service tree, esp. Sorbus domestica.
2. Plant Biology the shadbush.

• Vulgar Latin *sorbea, derivative of Latin sorbus sorb¹
• 1520–30; earlier serves, plural of obsolete serve service tree; Middle English; Old English syrfe

Ser•vice  (sûr′vis), n. 

1. Biographical Robert W(illiam), 1874–1958, Canadian writer, born in England.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

service / ˈsɜːvɪs/ noun

1. an act of help or assistance
2. an organized system of labour and material aids used to supply the needs of the public: telephone service, bus service
3. the supply, installation, or maintenance of goods carried out by a dealer
4. the state of availability for use by the public (esp in the phrases intoorout of service)
5. a periodic overhaul made on a car, machine, etc
6. the act or manner of serving guests, customers, etc, in a shop, hotel, restaurant, etc
7. a department of public employment and its employees: civil service
8. employment in or performance of work for another: he has been in the service of our firm for ten years
9. one of the branches of the armed forces
10. (as modifier): service life
11. the state, position, or duties of a domestic servant (esp in the phrase in service)
12. the act or manner of serving food
13. a complete set of dishes, cups, etc, for use at table
14. public worship carried out according to certain prescribed forms: divine service
15. the prescribed form according to which a specific kind of religious ceremony is to be carried out: the burial service
16. the act, manner, or right of serving a ball
17. the game in which a particular player serves: he has lost his service
18. the serving of a writ, summons, etc, upon a person
19. (of male animals) the act of mating
20. (modifier) of, relating to, or for the use of servants or employees
21. (modifier) serving the public rather than producing goods

verb (transitive)

1. to provide service or services
2. to make fit for use
3. to supply with assistance
4. to overhaul (a car, machine, etc)
5. (of a male animal) to mate with (a female)
6. to meet interest and capital payments on (a debt)

Etymology: 12th Century servise, from Old French, from Latin servitium condition of a slave, from servus a slave

service / ˈsɜːvɪs/ noun

1. See service tree