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

Three minutes after the declaration of martial law, Mr. Noh’s military intelligence agents moved in to secure its computer server room, cut off landlines and confiscate the mobile phones of those on duty. —Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2025

Currently, those modules include Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Microsoft SharePoint, as well as the more generic Printer, E-Mail, and FTP server. —David English, PCMAG, 9 Mar. 2025

Late last year, an unauthorized third party carried out a cyberattack that accessed CPS data on a server owned by one of the school district’s technology vendors, Cleo, which is a file transfer software. —Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025

Hewlett Packard Enterprise — The server maker pulled back more than 16% after its second-quarter outlook missed analysts’ estimates, while its full-year earnings estimate also missed expectations. —Brian Evans, CNBC, 7 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for server

• fervor
• fervour
• observer
• preserver

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