English Dictionary

SUBSERVE

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

 Dictionary entry overview: What does subserve mean? 

SUBSERVE (verb)
  The verb SUBSERVE has 1 sense:

1. be helpful or usefulplay

  Familiarity information: SUBSERVE used as a verb is very rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


SUBSERVE (verb)

 Conjugation: 
Present simple: I / you / we / they subserve  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation ... he / she / it subserves  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past simple: subserved  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past participle: subserved  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
-ing form: subserving  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


Sense 1

Meaning:

Be helpful or useful

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "subserve" is one way to...):

aid; assist; help (give help or assistance; be of service)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

subservience (the condition of being something that is useful in reaching an end or carrying out a plan)

subservient (serving or acting as a means or aid)


 Context examples 


A new formation of tissue that does not subserve a physiologic purpose, has unregulated growth, exhibits cellular characteristics resembling cells of gastrointestinal lineage, and grows autonomously.

(Neoplasms of the Mouse Intestinal Tract, NCI Thesaurus/MMHCC)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Better the devil you know than the devil you don't." (English proverb)

"If a man is to do something more than human, he must have more than human powers." (Native American proverb, tribe unknown)

"You need a brother, without one you're like a person rushing to battle without a weapon." (Arabic proverb)

"East or West, home is best." (Czech proverb)



ALSO IN ENGLISH DICTIONARY:


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