noun / verb
serve
An action that puts a ball into play to begin a point.
The tennis player serves to begin the point.
Etymology
Serve developed from supplying something to presenting the ball for play. In sport, the serve is the delivery that starts a point.
More examples
- Her first serve landed outside the line.
- He has served three aces in a row.
- They practiced their serves before the match.
Forms
serve · serves · served · serving
Similar words
- service
- Another term for the action of serving in racket sports.