Service I Public Good Government Company Work People

• 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.
• the prison service

service

1. a system that provides something that the public needs, organized by the government or a private company
• see also emergency services
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/emergency-services
• 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.
2. an organization or a company that provides something for the public or does something for the government
• see also civil service
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/the-civil-service
• the prison service
• the BBC World Service
3. 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 (an) excellent service.
• the service sector (= the part of the economy involved in this type of business)
• a service industry
4. the serving of customers in hotels, restaurants, and shops/stores
• see also customer service
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/customer-service
• The food was good but the service was very slow.
• 10% will be added to your bill for service.
• Our main concern is to provide quality customer service.
5. the work that somebody does for an organization, etc., especially when it continues for a long time or is admired very much
• see also jury service
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/jury-duty
• 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.
6. 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. an examination of a vehicle or machine followed by any work that is necessary to keep it operating well
• see also after-sales service
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/after-sales-service
• a service engineer
• I had taken the car in for a service.
• I had taken the car in for service.
8. the particular skills or help that a person is able to offer
• You need the services of a good lawyer.
• He offered his services as a driver.
9. the army, the navy and the air force; the work done by people in them
• see also active service
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/active-service
• Most of the boys went straight into the services.
• He saw service in North Africa.
• a service family
10. a religious ceremony
• morning/evening service
• to hold/attend a service
• a funeral/marriage/memorial, etc. service
11. a bus, train, etc. that goes regularly to a particular place at a particular time
• the cancellation of the 10.15 service to Glasgow
12. a place beside a motorway where you can stop for petrol, a meal, the toilets, etc.
• see also service area
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/service-area
• motorway services
• It's five miles to the next services.
13. an act of hitting the ball in order to start playing; the way that you hit it
• synonym serve
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/serve_2
• It's your service (= your turn to start playing).
• Her service has improved.
14. a complete set of plates, dishes, etc. that match each other
• see also dinner service
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/dinner-service
• a tea service (= cups, saucers, a teapot and plates, for serving tea)
15. the state or position of being a servant
• to be in/go into service (= to be/become a servant)
16. the formal giving of an official document, etc. to somebody
• the service of a demand for payment
17. completely available for somebody to use or to help somebody
• Health care must be at the service of all who need it.
• If you need anything, I am at your service.
18. to be useful or helpful
• Can I be of service to anyone?
19. to do something that is helpful/not helpful to somebody
• She was doing herself no service by remaining silent.
20. to use somebody/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.

Extra Examples

• All 18-year-old males are required to do a year’s military service.
• Bus companies are planning to lay on extra services.
• Essential services will be maintained.
• Essential services= the supply of water, gas, electricity will be maintained.
• Find out what services are available in your area.
• He died on active service.
• He saw service during the First World War.
• He was given an award for his services to the disabled.
• I complained about the poor service.
• I typed my password into my instant messaging service.
• If you would like a meal in your room, please call room service.
• Internet service providers
• May I be of service to you?
• Most of the boys went straight into the services.
• Our main concern is to provide quality customer service.
• She offered her services as a babysitter.
• She works for the social services
• The aircraft entered service with the Swedish Air Force in 1997.
• The cabin staff are at your service throughout the flight.
• The company offers direct, fast and frequent services between large towns and cities.
• The company provides products and services to customers in 145 countries.
• The new system will enable people to access the service more easily.
• The ship has been taken out of service for extensive cleaning.
• The studio launches its own digital music download service next month.
• There is a limited service on these bus routes.
• They sold their services to a major airline.
• This bus is not in service.
• This government has systematically cut back public services since it took office.
• US Airways also added service recently to the Dominican Republic.
• We guarantee first-class service.
• We need the services of a good lawyer.
• We need to expand this valuable service to other cities.
• We offer a comprehensive service to home buyers.
• We offer excellent after-sales service on all our goods.
• We ordered room service.
• We will be operating a reduced service while engineering work takes place.
• You have done us a great service.
• a financial services company
• a job in domestic service
• a plastic surgeon advertising his services on the Internet
• a public-service announcement
• an online dating service
• available for jury service
• changes to scheduled services
• his military service record during the Vietnam War
• memorial service for people killed in the attack
• mental health services for young people
• paramedics who provide a vital service to the public
• payment for services rendered
• people who use the health-care service
• public-service broadcasting
• retail and food service workers
• retired military service members
• service to the community
• services from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
• specialized services for the deaf and hard of hearing
• to seek the services of an attorney
• wireless Internet services
• A free bus service to and from the venue is available.
• A massive operation was launched by the emergency services.
• A special service of praise and thanksgiving was held in the cathedral.
• A spokesman for the ambulance service defended the changes.
• He always attends morning service.
• I offered my services as a babysitter for the evening.
• I think you are going to need the services of a good lawyer.
• I’ve taken the car in for a service.
• She has just celebrated 25 years’ service with the company.
• She works for the prison service.
• Smith’s Catering Services offers the best value.
• The California-based computer services company announced their quarterly results yesterday.
• The company’s service engineers are highly qualified.
• The employees have good conditions of service.
• The government aims to improve public services, especially education.
• The news was reported on the BBC World Service last night.
• The postal service here is rather unreliable.
• The service industries were most affected by the recession.
• They are offering special incentives to the financial services sector.
• computer/catering/financial/insurance/marketing/freight/accommodation services
• the Diplomatic Service
• the Florida Bureau of Emergency Medical Services
• the Foreign Service

Word Origin

• Old English (denoting religious devotion or a form of public worship), from Old French servise or Latin servitium ‘slavery’, from servus ‘slave’. The early sense of the verb (mid 19th cent.) was ‘be of service to, provide with a service’.