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Server

UK //ˈsɜː.vər//US //ˈsɜrvər//

Definition

A person or device that provides a service, especially food or computer data.

In simple words: A person or machine that provides services, especially food or data.

Examples

  • The server brought our meals quickly.
  • She worked as a server while attending college.
  • The data server crashed during the update.
  • They installed a new server to handle more traffic.
  • The server at the restaurant was very attentive.
  • We need to upgrade our server to improve performance.

Usage notes

Used in both restaurant settings for food servers and in tech for data servers. In restaurants, it's polite to say 'server' instead of 'waiter/waitress' to be gender-neutral. In tech, 'server' usually refers to a computer that manages network resources.

Grammar pattern

serve + object

Memory hint

Think of a 'server' bringing food to your table like a waiter in a restaurant.

Collocations

  • wait staff
  • web server
  • food server
  • dedicated server
  • file server

Synonyms

  • waitstaff
  • attendant
  • computer host
  • provider
  • servant

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'service' - 'server' is a noun, while 'service' is a concept.
  • Using 'server' only for food contexts and not recognizing its tech meaning.
  • Using the term incorrectly to refer to clients or users.