service

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a system that provides something necessary for the public, like water, electricity, or transport.

n. a system or organisation that provides an essential public commodity or facility.

“Bus services in the city are usually very reliable during the week.”

“The government invested heavily in expanding social services to support the ageing population in rural districts.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Religion

n. a formal religious ceremony.

n. a formal act of public worship or a religious rite.

“We attended a beautiful memorial service for our late professor.”

“The Sunday morning service was conducted in the cathedral, drawing a large congregation from the surrounding parishes.”

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Military

n. work done as a member of the army, navy, or air force.

n. employment in the armed forces of a country.

“He retired after twenty years of service in the navy.”

“Many young citizens were called up for national service during the period of heightened geopolitical tension.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Technology

n. the act of checking and repairing a machine or vehicle.

n. the periodic inspection and maintenance of a vehicle or machine to ensure it remains in good working order.

“My car is due for a service before we go on our road trip.”

“The technician recommended a full service of the heating system to prevent a breakdown during the winter months.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Sports

n. the act of hitting the ball to start a point in games like tennis.

n. the act of putting the ball or shuttlecock into play in a court game.

“Her powerful service made it very difficult for her opponent to return the ball.”

“The player struggled with his service throughout the first set, committing several double faults at crucial moments.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Cooking Formal

n. a complete set of matching plates, cups, and other items for a meal.

n. a complete set of matching crockery or cutlery required for serving a meal.

“They received a fine china dinner service as a wedding present.”

“The museum displayed an eighteenth-century silver tea service, intricately engraved with the family's coat of arms.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a program or task that runs in the background on a computer to help other programs.

n. a software function or set of functions that can be reused by different applications.

“The cloud service allows users to store their photos online automatically.”

“The system architecture relies on several micro-services that communicate via a secure internal network.”

B1 · Intermediate Technology

v. to check and repair a vehicle or machine.

v. to perform regular maintenance or repairs on a vehicle or piece of equipment.

“You should have your boiler serviced every year to keep it safe.”

“The airline services its fleet at a dedicated facility to ensure all safety regulations are strictly met.”

C1 · Advanced Economics Academic · Formal

v. to pay the interest on a loan or debt.

v. to make payments of interest and principal on a debt.

“The country struggled to service its national debt as the economy slowed down.”

“High interest rates made it increasingly difficult for the corporation to service its outstanding loans while maintaining research and development spending.”

C2 · Proficiency Vulgar · Slang

v. to have sex with someone, often for money.

v. to perform a sexual act upon another person; often used in the context of prostitution.

“The movie depicted a dark world where people were paid to service wealthy clients.”

“The witness alleged that the club was a front for a business where staff were forced to service patrons in private rooms.”

C1 · Advanced Science Technical

v. when a male animal mates with a female animal.

v. to mate with a female animal; typically used of livestock in a breeding context.

“The farmer brought in a prize bull to service the cows.”

“The stud fee for a stallion to service a mare can vary significantly based on the horse's racing pedigree.”