# server

/ˈsɝvɝ/ (US) · /sˈɜːvɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/server
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. computing system

noun · CEFR B1

a computer or program that stores information and shares it with other computers on a network.

For teachers: a computer or software application that provides specific services, data, or resources to other computers, known as clients, over a network.

- The company's email server went down, so nobody could send messages for an hour.
- The IT department migrated the database to a cloud-based server to ensure better scalability during peak traffic periods.

### 2. restaurant worker

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a person who serves food and drinks to customers in a restaurant.

For teachers: a person employed to wait on tables in a restaurant; a gender-neutral alternative to waiter or waitress.

- Our server was very friendly and recommended the best pasta on the menu.
- The server handled the complicated dietary requests with professional grace, ensuring every guest felt accommodated despite the busy dinner rush.

### 3. online community

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a private space on an app like Discord where a group of people can chat and share files.

For teachers: a specific instance or community space within a communication platform where members interact in themed channels.

- I joined a gaming server to find other people who play the same strategy game.
- The moderator established strict rules for the server to prevent spam and ensure that discussions remained focused on the project.

### 4. sports player

noun · CEFR B2

the player who starts a point by hitting the ball to the other side.

For teachers: the player whose turn it is to put the ball or shuttlecock into play.

- The server hit a powerful ace that the other player couldn't even touch.
- In professional tennis, a dominant server can often dictate the pace of the entire match through high first-serve percentages.

### 6. religious assistant

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

a person who helps the priest during a religious ceremony.

For teachers: a layperson who assists the celebrant in a religious service, particularly in the liturgy of the Eucharist.

- The young server carried the processional cross at the start of the service.
- The priest was assisted by two servers who were responsible for preparing the altar and ringing the sanctus bell at the appropriate moments.

## Examples

- The website went offline because the main server crashed.
- When you type a web address into your browser, it sends a request to a server that delivers the page.
- To handle the sudden surge in holiday traffic, the engineering team deployed several additional cloud servers to ensure the e-commerce platform remained responsive.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.