service
24
4.4
- noun
- /ˈsɜrvɪs/
- UK
- Food service.
Examples
-
The food, the service, the wine cellar, the glassware, the plates.
-
No meal service today.
-
Review your protocols for table setting and wine service.
-
Hold that gold-plated service plate.
-
Rebecca enters wearing a sheer silk bathrobe and carrying a tea service on a tray.
Fiction book (1993) -
"Antonia nods in the direction of the silver service on the polished sideboard."
Fiction book (1996) -
Demetrio set down the tea service, straightened, and fastened his greenish gaze on the mistress's son.
Fiction book (1995) -
Wedgwood produced an Egyptian tea service whose teapots sported crocodile handles and hieroglyphic borders.
Academic text (2004) -
The wedding reception featured an elegant dinner service that included matching plates, glasses, and cutlery.
-
For her birthday, she received a beautiful porcelain tea service adorned with delicate floral patterns.
Synonyms
28
2.9
A matching set of plates, knives, and sometimes glasses that you use to serve a formal meal
8
3.2
A set of plates, cups, and cutlery for one person
6
3.2
A set of plates, glasses, forks, and knives placed for one person at a meal
6
3.5
Plates, cups, and dishes used for serving or eating food
5
2.7
Items like plates and bowls for serving and eating food at a meal
3
3.1
A set of matching dishes and utensils used at the dining table
2
2.7
Plates, glasses, and cutlery used for serving and eating food at a table
1
1.3
A matching set of plates, bowls, and cups for serving dinner
1
2.8
Plates, bowls, and cups used for serving and eating food
Idioms
Compounds
254
3.4
A United States government group that protects the president and vice president and investigates fake money
103
2.7
Unpaid work to help people in the local area, sometimes required by law or done for charity
- Specialized
42
3.0
A group that gathers and studies secret information for a government
34
4.1
A level where staff do many things for customers, like pumping gas or helping at a hotel
33
2.5
A United States government agency that gives weather forecasts and warnings
28
2.9
A matching set of plates, knives, and sometimes glasses that you use to serve a formal meal
25
3.0
Part of the economy that provides services instead of making things, like hotels or hospitals
- Formal
24
3.0
Government workers who run public services, are not in the military or courts, and are usually chosen by exams
- Formal
24
3.6
A United States government group that manages national parks, monuments, and protected places
- Formal
24
3.8
A part of the U.S. government that collects federal taxes and makes sure people follow tax laws
17
4.4
The part of the United States Department of State with diplomats who work in embassies and consulates abroad
- Literature
14
3.9
A company that collects news and sends it to newspapers or TV stations
- Specialized
11
3.4
An elevator that staff use to move things like large boxes between floors
11
3.9
A business that provides services like event planning or computer work to other companies for a fee
- Specialized
10
3.4
An entrance at the back of a building used by staff, for deliveries, or to take out rubbish
9
4.9
A former United States government office that handled immigration and becoming a citizen
8
3.0
The part of a company that helps customers with problems and fixes products
- Formal
8
3.0
A service that people need for health, safety and daily care, like healthcare or water
6
1.0
An official system that sends letters and packages between places, often run by the government
- Texting
5
2.8
An online service that sends, receives, and stores electronic messages for users
5
2.3
A government service that collects, sorts, and delivers mail across the United States
- Formal
4
2.4
A government agency that delivers letters and packages across the United States
3
4.1
A college or university program that gives classes and advice to people who are not regular students
- Formal
3
3.7
A government group that protects the US president, vice president, their families, visiting leaders, and stops people making fake money
- Formal
3
6.8
A high military medal given to United States Army soldiers for very brave actions in battle
- Formal
3
5.8
A United States system that registers men and can require them to join the military
2
6.3
The main agency in Russia that handles security inside the country and spying
A Russian government agency that gathers information and carries out operations abroad
- Specialized
2
4.2
A piece of software that runs in the background to help other apps or the system
- Texting
2
3.2
A website or app that helps people connect and share messages and photos
- Formal
2
7.0
A system that by law makes people join the military when chosen by the government
2
5.2
A small, highly trained group of British soldiers who do secret, dangerous missions
2
5.6
Government officials who represent their country abroad, for example ambassadors
A government group in Iraq that gathers secret information and runs secret operations to protect the country
- Formal
2
3.2
A US government agency that protects wild animals, fish, and their habitats
2
3.4
A United States government agency that protects the president, other top officials, and investigates money crimes
How Many
Surface Forms
Etymology
Service (tableware) comes from the idea of 'serving' food, from the verb serve and Latin servire 'to serve', so a dinner 'service' is the matching set of plates and dishes used to serve a meal.