Skip to main content
server

server

2 3.2
A flat tool for lifting and moving pieces of food, such as cake
  • noun
  • /ˈsɜrvər/
translation icon : utensilio para servir
  • I should have brought my large pie server.
  • cake server
  • pie server
  • salad server

These are salad servers with a garden theme.

Examples

  • These are salad servers with a garden theme.

  • She won a silver-plated pie server.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Stephen told them, "Just a minute, all right?" And he went to the drawer and found the cake server, then tore off several sheets of paper towel.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • There was a huge silver tea service, gold-rimmed china cups and saucers, and a three-tiered silver server with wonderful minuscule cucumber sandwiches and tiny scones.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The equipment used for hot holding included hot dog grills, infrared heat lamps, roaster ovens, crock pots, electric saucepans, and food warmer-servers.

    Academic text (1993)
  • I should have brought my large server to serve the pie.

  • These are beautiful servers designed specifically for serving salad.

  • The elegant server made it easy to slice and serve the cake.

Synonyms

salver
vsserver
1 9.8

A flat tray often made of silver that people use to serve food or drinks

is a general utensil used for serving or cutting food, not a metal tray
paten
vsserver
  • Archaic
9.9

A shallow dish used long ago for holding or serving food

is a general flat utensil for serving slices rather than a small plate
food turner
vsserver
3.0

A flat, flexible tool with a long handle for turning pancakes or eggs

is designed for serving portions or slices rather than flipping food with a handle

Compounds

web server
  • Texting
8 3.5

A computer or program that stores and sends website pages to people on the internet

process-server
  • Specialized
4 7.7

A person who brings court papers to someone in a court case

file server
  • Specialized
1 3.6

A computer on a network that stores files and lets other users access them with permission

client-server
  • Specialized
1 4.5

Relating to a computer system where one central computer provides services to many connected computers

server issue
  • Specialized
1 3.6

A problem that makes a computer that runs websites and apps stop working

dedicated file server
  • Specialized
5.1

A computer used only to store and share files for other computers

7.5

A computer that shares files on a network and is also used for work

Web Map Server
  • Specialized
4.6

A program that makes maps for websites from information about places

How Specialized

server
2 3.2
ladle
18 2.1
spoon
146 1.0

Surface Forms

server singular
servers plural

Morphology

server = serve (transparent) = serve + er

Nominal/instrumental use of '-er' meaning 'thing used for serving', which learners can derive from the verb.

Etymology

Server comes from the verb serve, which means 'to put or give food to people'. A cake or pie server is the tool you use to 'serve' slices to guests, so the name tells you its job.