WordGarden.ioserver
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈɜːvə/
US
- /ˈsɜrvər/
Meanings
Noun
a computer or program that provides data, resources, or services to other devices
a restaurant worker who takes orders and brings food and drinks to customers
the player who starts a point or game by serving the ball or shuttlecock
Beyond the definition
A "server" can mean different things, but the main idea is simple: it gives, delivers, or starts something. In a restaurant, it is the person who brings food and drinks and helps customers. In the digital world, a server is a computer or system that sends information, files, or services to other computers, often called clients, over a network. It answers requests and helps things work in the background when you open a website, send an email, or play an online game. In sports like tennis or volleyball, the server is the player who starts the point. Whether it is food, data, or a ball, the idea is still about providing something.
The term "server" is a versatile word that describes anyone or anything providing a specific service. Many people first encounter this word in a hospitality context, where it refers to the person who waits tables in a restaurant. In that setting, the meaning is closely tied to taking orders and delivering food and drinks to customers.
In everyday modern use, however, "server" often refers to computing technology. A computer server is a machine or system that provides data, tools, or access to other computers on a network. Unlike a personal laptop used mainly by one person at a time, a server is usually set up to handle requests from many users or devices. It can perform several essential functions:
- Web Servers: Deliver website content to your browser.
- Email Servers: Handle the sending, receiving, and storing of messages.
- File Servers: Act as digital warehouses where multiple users can store and access files.
- Game Servers: Host online multiplayer environments, allowing players to connect and compete.
- Database Servers: Organize and manage massive amounts of structured data.
Beyond the dining room and the data center, "server" has a specific meaning in sports. In games like tennis, volleyball, or badminton, the server is the player who puts the ball or shuttlecock into play to start a point. In legal contexts, a "process server" is a person who delivers official legal documents to the person named in a case.
The term can also be used as an adjective, such as "server-side scripting," which refers to code that runs on the central machine rather than your own. No matter the context, the core idea of a "server" remains consistent: it is the entity responsible for providing, delivering, or initiating a necessary service. It's all about the act of serving!
Examples
- 1
Restaurant
Our server checked on us a few minutes after the food arrived.
- 2
Data storage
All the customer data is stored on a secure server.
- 3
Website hosting
The website runs on a fast server in Singapore.
- 4
Email system
The email server went down this morning, so nobody could send messages.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
App scaling
We had to move the app to a larger server after traffic increased.
- 6
Online gaming
The game kept disconnecting me from the server.
- 7
Tennis
She is one of the strongest servers in women's tennis.
- Domain
in tennis, the server is the player who hits the ball first
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- servernoun
Forms
- serverspluralnoun