- 1[countable] a system that provides something that the public needs, organized by the government or a private company the ambulance/bus/telephone, etc. service The government aims to improve public services, especially education. Essential services (= the supply of water, gas, electricity) will be maintained. see postal service
- 2Service [countable] an organization or a company that provides something for the public or does something for the government the U.S. Customs Service the BBC World Service see civil service, dating service, Diplomatic Service, health service, Internal Revenue Service, secret service, security service, social services
- 3[countable, uncountable] a business whose work involves doing something for customers but not producing goods; the work that such a business does financial services the development of new goods and services Smith's Catering Services (= a company) offers the best value. We guarantee excellent service. the service sector (= the part of the economy involved in this type of business) a service industry in hotel/store/restaurant
- 4[uncountable] the serving of customers in hotels, restaurants, and stores The food was good but the service was very slow. Our main concern is to provide quality customer service. Topic CollocationsRestaurantseating out
- eat (lunch/dinner)/dine/meet at/in a restaurant
- go (out)/take somebody (out) for lunch/dinner/a meal
- have a meal with somebody
- make/have a reservation (in/under the name of Baker)
- reserve a table for six
- ask for/request a table for two/a table by the window
- wait to be seated
- show somebody to their table
- sit in the corner/by the window/at the bar/at the counter
- hand somebody/give somebody the menu/wine list
- open/read/study/peruse the menu
- the restaurant has a three-course set menu/a children's menu/an extensive wine list
- taste/sample/try the wine
- the waiter takes your order
- order/choose/have the soup of the day/one of the specials/the house specialty
- serve/finish the appetizers/the first course/the main course/dessert/coffee
- complain about the food/the service/your meal
- enjoy your meal
- pay/ask for the check/the bill
- pay for/treat somebody to dinner/lunch/the meal
- a gratuity/a service charge is (not) included
- give somebody/leave (somebody) a tip
work for organization - 5[uncountable] service (to something) the work that someone does for an organization, etc., especially when it continues for a long time or is admired very much She has just celebrated 25 years' service with the company. The employees have good conditions of service. After retiring, she became involved in voluntary service in the local community. of vehicle/machine
- 6[uncountable] the use that you can get from a vehicle or machine; the state of being used That computer gave us very good service. The ship will be taken out of service within two years.
- 7[uncountable] an examination of a vehicle or machine followed by any work that is necessary to keep it operating well I took the car in for service. a service engineer
- 8[usually plural] the particular skills or help that a person is able to offer service (of somebody) You need the services of a good lawyer. service (as somebody/something) He offered his services as a driver. army/navy/air force
- 9[countable, usually singular, uncountable] the army, the navy, and the air force; the work done by people in them Most of the boys went straight into the service. He saw service in North Africa. a service family see active service, military service religious ceremony
- 10[countable] a religious ceremony morning/evening service to hold/attend a service a funeral/marriage/memorial, etc. service Topic CollocationsReligionbeing religious
- believe in God/Christ/Allah/free will/predestination/heaven and hell/an afterlife/reincarnation
- be/become an agnostic/an atheist/a believer/a Buddhist/Christian/Hindu/Muslim, etc.
- convert to/practice a religion/Buddhism/Catholicism/Christianity/Islam/Judaism, etc.
- go to church/temple (= the synagogue)
- go to the local church/mosque/synagogue
- belong to a church/a religious community
- join/enter the Church/a convent/a monastery/the clergy/the priesthood/a religious sect/a cult
- praise/worship/obey/serve/glorify God
- attend/hold/conduct/lead a service
- perform a ceremony/a rite/a ritual/a baptism/the Hajj/a bar mitzvah/a bat mitzvah
- carry out/perform a sacred/burial/funeral/fertility/purification rite/the last rites
- go on/make a pilgrimage
- celebrate Christmas/Diwali/Easter/Eid/Hanukkah/Passover/Ramadan
- observe/break the Sabbath/a fast/Ramadan
- deliver/preach/hear a sermon
- lead/address the congregation
- say/recite a prayer/blessing
- preach/proclaim/spread the word of God/the Gospel/the message of Islam/a message
- study/follow the dharma/the teachings of Buddha
- read/study/understand/interpret scripture/the Bible/the Koran/the Gospel/the Torah
- be based on/derived from divine revelation
- commit/consider something heresy/sacrilege
- seek/find/gain enlightenment/wisdom
- strengthen/lose/question your faith
- keep/practice/abandon the faith
- save/purify/lose your soul
- obey/follow/keep/break/violate a commandment/Islamic law/Jewish law
- be/accept/do God's will
- receive/experience divine grace
- achieve/attain enlightenment/salvation/nirvana
- undergo a conversion/rebirth/reincarnation
- hear/answer a prayer
- commit/confess/forgive a sin
- do/perform penance
bus/train - 11[uncountable, countable, usually singular] the fact of a bus, train, etc. going regularly to a particular place at a particular time small rural towns without regular bus service in tennis
- 12[countable] an act of hitting the ball in order to start playing; the way that you hit it synonym serve It's your service (= your turn to start playing). Her service has improved.
- 13[countable] a complete set of plates, dishes, etc. that match each other a tea service (= cups, saucers, a teapot, and plates, for serving tea) see dinner service being servant
- 14[uncountable] (old-fashioned) the state or position of being a servant to be in/go into service (= to be/become a servant) of official document
- 15[uncountable] (law) the formal giving of an official document, etc. to someone the service of a demand for payment Idioms
providing something
completely available for someone to use or to help someone Health care must be at the service of all who need it. (formal or humorous) If you need anything, I am at your service.
to be useful or helpful Can I be of service to anyone?
to do something that is helpful/not helpful to someone She was doing herself no service by remaining silent.
to use someone or something for a purpose that they were not trained or intended for because there is nobody or nothing else available Every type of boat was pressed into service to rescue passengers from the sinking ferry.
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