Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
serve out en · VERB
Meanings
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(transitive) To win a set, or by extension a match, by holding serve (winning a game as the server).
She held her nerve after failing to serve out the match at the first attempt, seeing three match points slip by in a nervous service game at 6-4 5-4 and recovering from losing the tie-break to dominate the decider.
2011 June 28, Piers Newbery, “Wimbledon 2011: Sabine Lisicki beats Marion Bartoli”, in BBC Sport:
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(transitive) To serve the whole of some period.
The politician did not serve out his term.
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(transitive) To deal out or distribute.
The waiters served out soup to the guests.
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(archaic, transitive) To pay back; to have one's revenge on.
'Yar!' said she, 'you little meddlesome wretch, I have you now! I will serve you out for telling the salmon where I was!'
1863, Charles Kingsley, The Water-Babies:
Forms