noun
service
The act of hitting a ball to start play.
Her powerful service starts the tennis point quickly.
Etymology
The noun names the action of serving the ball. It applies the older idea of supplying or delivering something to the stroke that begins play.
More examples
- He lost the game on his own service.
- The coach helped her improve her service.
- A fault was called on the first service.
Forms
service · services
Similar words
- serve
- The more common short noun for starting the point.