server
HighNeutral to formal; technical in computing contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A person or thing that serves, especially one who serves food or drink, or a computer system that provides data or services to other computers.
In sports, the player who puts the ball into play (e.g., in tennis or volleyball). In law, a person who serves legal documents. In religion, a person who assists a priest.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The primary modern sense is computational. The 'food service' sense is still common but may be contextually marked (e.g., 'waiter/waitress' is often preferred in casual dining).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'server' for computing and food service. In UK casual dining, 'waiter/waitress' is slightly more common than 'server', which can sound more institutional or American.
Connotations
In the UK, 'server' in a restaurant can sound slightly impersonal or corporate. In the US, it is a standard, neutral term.
Frequency
The computing sense dominates in both varieties due to technological ubiquity.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + server: configure/run/reboot/access the server[adjective] + server: dedicated/virtual/remote/local serverserver + [verb]: The server hosts/stores/manages the data.server + [preposition]: server for a website, server in a data centreVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The server is down.”
- “On your server.”
- “Ace server (tennis).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to IT infrastructure critical for operations. 'We need to upgrade the company's email server.'
Academic
Used in computer science, network engineering, and information systems literature.
Everyday
Common in discussing internet issues ('The Netflix server is slow') or dining ('Our server was very helpful').
Technical
Precise specifications: 'The Apache server runs on a Linux distribution, handling HTTP requests.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new software will server the requests more efficiently.
- He servers the ball with incredible speed.
American English
- The application servers data to mobile devices.
- She servers an ace to win the match.
adjective
British English
- The server room is kept at a constant temperature.
- We reviewed the server logs for errors.
American English
- The server rack needs more cooling.
- Check the server status page.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The server brought our food.
- I cannot open the website. Maybe the server is busy.
- Our office server stores all the company files.
- The tennis player is a powerful server.
- They migrated the database to a cloud-based server for better scalability.
- The server politely informed us of the daily specials.
- The proxy server acts as an intermediary, enhancing security and performance for client requests.
- As the lead server on the shift, she was responsible for training new staff.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SERVER as someone or something that SERVES: serves food, serves data, or serves a tennis ball.
Conceptual Metaphor
SERVANT (provides service), HUB (central point of distribution), FOUNDATION (supports a structure).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите 'web server' как 'веб-официант'. Это 'веб-сервер' или 'сервер'.
- В контексте ресторана 'server' — это 'официант(ка)', а не 'сервер'.
- В теннисе 'server' — 'подающий', а не 'сервер'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'server' to mean 'service' (e.g., 'I called the customer server' – incorrect).
- Confusing 'server' (hardware/software) with 'browser' (client software).
- Misspelling as 'seaver' or 'sever'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'server' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it has multiple meanings. The most common are: 1) a computer that provides data, and 2) a person who serves food. It is also used in sports and law.
In a restaurant, they are often synonyms. 'Server' is a more modern, gender-neutral term. 'Waiter/Waitress' specifies gender and is very common, especially in British English.
Yes, but it is rare and technical. In computing, it means 'to function as a server'. In tennis, it means 'to serve the ball'. The noun form is vastly more common.
Mostly yes, for computing and food service. However, for the sports meaning (tennis), 'sacador' or 'jugador que saca' is used. Always consider the context.
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