service

Universal Words noun, verb noun providing sth 1 [C] a system that provides sth that the public needs, organized by the government or a private company: the ambulance / bus / telephone service * The government aims to improve public services, especially education. * Essential services (= the supply of water, gas, electricity) will be maintained. seealsoEMERGENCYSERVICES, POSTALSERVICE 2 (also Service) [C] an organization or a company that provides sth for the public or does sth for the government: the prison service * the BBC World Service seealsoCIVILSERVICE, DIPLOMATICSERVICE, FIRESERVICE, HEALTHSERVICE, INTERNALREVENUESERVICE, NATIONALHEALTHSERVICE, SECRETSERVICE, SECURITYSERVICE, SOCIALSERVICES 3 [C,U] a business whose work involves doing sth for customers but not producing goods; the work that such a business does: financial / banking / insurance services * the development of new goods and services * Smith's Catering Services (= a company) offers the best value. * We guarantee (an) excellent service. * the service sector (= the part of the economy involved in this type of business) * a service industry in hotel / shop / restaurant 4 [U] the serving of customers in hotels, restaurants, and shops/stores: The food was good but the service was very slow. * 10% will be added to your bill for service. * Our main concern is to provide quality customer service. seealsoROOMSERVICE, SELF-SERVICE work for organization 5 [U] ~ (to sth) the work that sb does for an organization, etc., especially when it continues for a long time or is admired very much: She has just celebrated 25 years' service with the company. * The employees have good conditions of service. * After retiring, she became involved in voluntary service in the local community. seealsoJURYSERVICE of vehicle / machine 6 [U] the use that you can get from a vehicle or machine; the state of being used: That computer gave us very good service. * The ship will be taken out of service within two years. 7 [C] an examination of a vehicle or machine followed by any work that is necessary to keep it operating well: I had taken the car in for a service. * We offer excellent after sales service on all our goods. * a service engineer skills / help 8 [usuallypl.] ~ (of sb)