1 [count] : an organization, company, or system that provides something to the public
▪ the National Park Service ▪ the National Weather Service [=a government agency that provides information about the weather] ▪ Students go to health services for medical attention. ▪ He runs a landscaping service. ▪ Their housing is provided through government services. — see also answering service, civil service, dating service, foreign service, internal revenue service, postal service, public service, secret service, social services, wire service 2 : work done by an organization or person that does not involve producing goods [count] ▪ Take advantage of their free delivery service. ▪ bus/Internet/telephone service — often plural ▪ He offered his services as a babysitter [=he offered to be a babysitter] during the party. ▪ The lawyers offer their services for free to those who cannot afford to pay. ▪ We received a bill for services rendered. [=for work that had been done] ▪ the consumption of goods and services [noncount] ▪ We guarantee excellent service. ▪ They have jobs in the service industries. [=jobs that involve providing services to customers and not producing a product] 3 [noncount] a : work done for a business or organization : employment
▪ She retired from the company after 34 years of service. ▪ Pay is determined by length of service.
b : work done for your country, government, etc.
▪ a family tradition of public service ▪ Reporters began investigating his record of military service. [=time spent serving in the army, navy, air force, etc.] — see also community service
c old-fashioned : employment as a servant
▪ He entered the queen's service. ▪ In those days it wasn't unusual for a person to go into service [=become a servant] as a child. ▪ He was in service all his life. 4 [noncount] : the act of helping or serving customers at a restaurant, hotel, store, etc.
▪ The food was good but the service was terribly slow. ▪ The company is known for its excellent customer service. — see also full-service, lip service, room service 5 [noncount] : use of a machine or vehicle
▪ Our car has given us great service over the years. [=has served us very well over the years] : the state of being available for use ▪ The copier is currently out of service. [=out of order] ▪ The new planes will be put into service [=will begin being used] next year. 6 : work that is done to repair something (such as a vehicle) or to keep it in good condition [noncount] ▪ He brought his car in for service. ▪ The store provides television sales and service. [count] ▪ (Brit) He brought his car in for a service. 7 : a regularly scheduled trip on a bus, airplane, boat, etc. [count] ▪ The 10:30 bus service to Boston is canceled today. [noncount] ▪ There is ferry service to the island four times a day. [=the ferry goes to the island four times a day] 8 [count] : a religious ceremony
▪ a funeral/memorial/burial service ▪ She goes to the synagogue for services on Friday nights. 9 US the service or Brit the services : a country's military forces : a country's army, navy, air force, etc.
▪ He entered/joined the service when he was 19. ▪ She was in the service for 20 years. 10 [count] : a set of dishes, cups, etc., that match each other
▪ a tea service ▪ I have a china/dinner service for 12 people. 11 [count] sports : the act of serving the ball in tennis, volleyball, etc. : serve
▪ a first/second service 12 [noncount] law : the act of giving legal papers to someone
▪ the service of a subpoena 13 services Brit : a place along a highway for drivers to get food, gasoline, etc. — used both as a singular noun and as a plural noun ▪ We stopped at a services.