26984 words

service

47 definitions • 82 examples
1
a government system or private organization that is responsible for a particular type of activity, or for providing a particular thing that people need:

Examples:

the postal service
US the National Park Service
UK the National Health Service
UK the ambulance/prison service
2
the fact that a system is working:

Examples:

There is a very limited bus service on Sundays.
operate a service We hope to be operating a normal service as soon as possible.
3
a place at the side of a large road at which fuel, food, drink, and other things that people want on their journey are sold:

Examples:

We stopped at the services to get fuel.
4
the act of dealing with customers in a shop, restaurant, or hotel by taking their orders, showing or selling them goods, etc.:

Examples:

The only trouble with this café is that the service is so slow.
good service You should leave a generous tip to reward good service.
5
an amount of money charged for serving a customer in a restaurant, often paid directly to the waiter:

Examples:

service charge There is a ten percent service charge included in the bill.
6
work that someone does or time that someone spends working for an organization:

Examples:

community service These teenagers all do community service in their free time.
public service She was given the award for a lifetime of public service.
service on Service on a jury may be deferred for health reasons.
7
a business that offers a particular type of help or work:

Examples:

babysitting service Why don't you call the babysitting service?
laundry/ironing service Guests may take advantage of free internet access and a reasonably priced laundry/ironing service.
8

Examples:

the diplomatic service
9
the particular skills that someone has and can offer to others:

Examples:

the services of I may be needing the services of a surveyor soon, as I'm buying a house.
10
in use:

Examples:

The battleship has been in service since 1965.
11
to be employed as a servant:

Examples:

Her mother was in service.
12
(work in) the armed forces:

Examples:

in the service He joined the air force in 1964 and spent ten years in the service.
military service All men under 35 were told to report for military service.
Service personnel are subject to the Official Secrets Act.
13
the army, navy, and/or air force:

Examples:

a career in the services
14
fighting in a war:

Examples:

He was the first member of his regiment to die while on active service.
15

Examples:

memorial service is held A memorial service is being held on Sunday for victims of the explosion.
16
in sports such as tennis, the act of hitting the ball to the other player to start play:

Examples:

She has a very fast service.
17
a set of objects such as plates, cups, or other things that are used in providing and eating food:

Examples:

a 24-piece dinner service
a tea service
18
a check and repair of a vehicle or machine that is done after regular periods:

Examples:

She took the car in for a service yesterday.
19

Examples:

I'm taking the car in to have it serviced this afternoon.
20
to make payments to pay back a debt:

Examples:

The country is still spending $3 million a week servicing debt.
21
to provide services to or for someone:

Examples:

We're quite happy to service our customers wherever they are.
Together they service 46 buildings, including 37 schools.
22

Examples:

Wembley stadium is serviced by Wembley Stadium, Wembley Park and Wembley Central stations.
The village is small, unspoilt and well serviced.
23
the help provided to a customer by someone who works in esp. a restaurant or store:

Examples:

The service in this restaurant is terrible – I’ve been waiting fifteen minutes.
24
work done or help provided, esp. for the public or for a person or an organization:

Examples:

[ U ] She was given the award for a lifetime of public service.
[ U ] The airplane had been in service (= used) for fifteen years.
[ pl ] You should have the services of a lawyer.
25
a system, organization, or business that provides for a public need, or the operation of such a system:

Examples:

[ C ] the diplomatic/postal service
[ U ] There is bus service to Newark Airport every twenty minutes.
26
A service is a business that provides something for people but does not produce goods:

Examples:

[ U ] My brother runs a car service (= business that rents cars with drivers).
27
The service is the armed forces:

Examples:

[ U ] He spent ten years in the service.
29
work done for others, such as cleaning or repairing, caring for a building, or making deliveries:

Examples:

This building has five service employees including the super.
30
A service entrance is an entrance to a building that is used for deliveries.
31
the act of hitting a ball to put it in play in tennis and some other sports
32
to examine a machine and repair any parts that are not working:

Examples:

I’m taking the car in to have it serviced this afternoon.
33
business activity that involves doing things for customers rather than producing goods, or a single act of doing something for a customer:

Examples:

The bank was the first to offer 24-hour telephone banking service.
We haven't actively promoted the email service because we have to be sure we can meet demand.
These days there are service jobs that no one ever dreamed about in the 1950s.
GDP is a measure of an economy's output of goods and services.
service for sb/sth We provide an internet service for lawyers.
34
a system or organization that provides something important that the public needs:

Examples:

the ambulance/health/postal, etc. service
35

Examples:

The immigration service has won an important victory in the courts.
36

Examples:

Passenger traffic registered a sharp rise thanks to the opening of a new ferry service from Liverpool to Dublin.
The 18:43 service to Liverpool has been cancelled.
Commercial air service is ready to resume today.
37
the way that employees of a business, store, etc. deal with customers, especially how quickly and effectively they do this:

Examples:

level/quality/standard of service We constantly seek to improve the quality of service we give to our customers.
good/excellent/poor service
provide/give service They have provided excellent service in handling problem cases.
get/receive service It seems like you never get good service in restaurants these days.
38
the particular skills that someone can offer to others:

Examples:

You need the services of a lawyer.
offer your services (as sth) He has offered his services as a mediator in the dispute.
Until fairly recently the Law Society frowned upon solicitors advertising their services in any way.
39
the time an employee spends working for an organization, or the work they do:

Examples:

15/40, etc. years (of) service The amount of the severance payment is based on his 25 years service with the group.
Under Germany's constitution, the unions and employers' federations have the exclusive right to negotiate wages and conditions of service.
40
a check and repair of a vehicle or machine that is done at regular periods:

Examples:

I'm taking my car in for a service.
41
to help someone:

Examples:

Hello, how can I be of service?
42
being used:

Examples:

If we find a technology that will work, it could be in service by 2012.
43
to make regular payments to pay back a debt or loan, including interest:

Examples:

As growth slowed and prices fell, borrowers were unable to service their debts.
The country is still spending $3 million a week servicing debt, twice what it spends on healthcare.
44
to collect and keep records of payments from a person or organization that has borrowed money:

Examples:

We service about 350,000 mortgage loans.
45

Examples:

I'm taking the car in to have it serviced.
The 10-year contract involves servicing 11 gas turbines on three deep-water platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.
46
to provide a service to someone:

Examples:

service an industry/market
We hope to achieve greater efficiency and be better able to service customers.
47
used only by people who work in a building or are delivering goods there, not by the general public:

Examples:

a service elevator/entrance

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