server

noun

serv·​er ˈsər-vər 

1

: one that serves food or drink

2

: the player who serves (as in tennis)

3

: something used in serving food or drink

4

: one that serves legal processes upon another

5

: the celebrant's assistant at mass

6

: a computer in a network that is used to provide services (such as access to files or shared peripherals or the routing of email) to other computers in the network

Synonyms

• garçon
• waiter
• waitperson

Examples of server in a Sentence

She asked our server for another glass of wine.

we had barely finished ordering when the server brought our salads

Recent Examples on the Web

The server’s recommendation of Hakurakusei sake ($26 for a carafe, $52 for a bottle) was also a big hit at the table. —Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 20 Dec. 2024

This would be about 36% of revenue at the consensus estimate for $80 billion, which pales in comparison to the 80% range Nvidia has, and AI server makers, with one expected to see up to 40% of revenue from AI next year. —Beth Kindig, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

It is widely assumed that the changes were intended to help the National Security Agency (NSA) target communications stored on servers at US data centers. —Dell Cameron, WIRED, 18 Dec. 2024

Founded in 2014 and known as a low-cost virtual server provider, Vultr offers GPUs from AMD and rival Nvidia, which are in high demand due to the boom in generative artificial intelligence. —Jordan Novet, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English server, servere, from serven "to serve entry 1" + -er, -ere -er entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing server

• ad server
• altar server
• blade server

Kids Definition

server

noun

serv·​er ˈsər-vər 

1

: a person who serves food or drink

2

: the player who puts a ball in play

3

: something (as a tray) used in serving food or drink

4

: a computer in a network that is used to provide services (as access to files or the delivery of email) to other computers