# service /ˈsɝvəs/ (US) · /sˈɜːvɪs/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/service Updated: 2026-08-15 ## Senses ### 1. act of helping noun · CEFR A2 the act of helping or doing work for someone. For teachers: an act of assistance or benefit provided to another party. - The hotel staff provided excellent service during our entire stay. - The company is renowned for its commitment to customer service, often going beyond contractual obligations to ensure client satisfaction. ### 2. public utility noun · CEFR A2 a system that provides something necessary for the public, like water, electricity, or transport. For teachers: 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. ### 3. religious ceremony noun · CEFR B1 a formal religious ceremony. For teachers: 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. ### 4. military duty noun · CEFR B1 work done as a member of the army, navy, or air force. For teachers: 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. ### 5. maintenance noun · CEFR B1 the act of checking and repairing a machine or vehicle. For teachers: 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. ### 6. sports play noun · CEFR B2 the act of hitting the ball to start a point in games like tennis. For teachers: 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. ### 7. set of dishes noun · CEFR C1 · Formal a complete set of matching plates, cups, and other items for a meal. For teachers: 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. ### 8. computing function noun · CEFR C1 · Technical a program or task that runs in the background on a computer to help other programs. For teachers: 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. ### 9. to maintain verb · CEFR B1 to check and repair a vehicle or machine. For teachers: 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. ### 10. to pay debt verb · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal to pay the interest on a loan or debt. For teachers: 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. ### 11. sexual act verb · CEFR C2 · Vulgar · Slang to have sex with someone, often for money. For teachers: 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. ### 12. animal breeding verb · CEFR C1 · Technical when a male animal mates with a female animal. For teachers: 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. ## Examples - The service at this restaurant is very fast. - After the car broke down, the mechanic provided excellent service and finished the repairs ahead of schedule. - Modern economies have shifted significantly toward the service sector, where value is generated through specialized labor and expertise rather than the manufacturing of physical goods. --- 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.