service

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Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈsɜːvɪs/, SAMPA: /"s3:vIs/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈsɝvɪs/, SAMPA: /"s3`vIs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular service

Plural services

1. (economics) An action or work by one person that can be consumed by another person.

   Hair care is a service industry.

2. (computing) A function that is provided by one program or machine for another.

   This machine provides the name service for the LAN.

3. The military.

   I did three years of service before coming here.

4. A set of dishes or utensils.

   She brought out the silver tea service.

5. The act of initially starting, or serving, the ball in play in tennis, volleyball, and other games.

   The player had four service faults in the set.

6. A religious rite or ritual.

   The funeral service was good.

7. (law) The serving, or delivery, of a document requiring someone to appear in a court of law.

   The service happened yesterday.

8. (public service) That which is provided by the government or its agents.

   The Job Centre provides a service to the unemployed.

Antonyms

• good (2)
• capital

Related words

• serviceman
• servicewoman

Verb

Plain form service

Third-person singular services

Past tense serviced

Past participle serviced

Present participle servicing

1. If you service something, you serve them.

   They service the customer base.

2. If you service something, you perform maintenance on them.

   He is going to service the car.