Meaning & use
server
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A computer or program that supplies data or services to other computers over a network.
Grammar: Countable; can be preceded by 'a' or used in plural.
Patterns
- web server
- email server
- server down
The website is hosted on a secure server.
Our email server was down for two hours.
He works as a server administrator.
nouncountable
A person who takes orders and serves food or drinks, especially in a restaurant.
Grammar: Countable; often used with 'a' or in plural.
Patterns
- waiter/waitress
- restaurant server
The server brought us the menu promptly.
She works as a server at a busy café.
Word forms
| plural | servers |
|---|
Common combinations
- web server
- The web server handles thousands of requests per second.
- server room
- Only IT staff can enter the server room.
- server error
- A server error prevented us from logging in.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
Commonly confused: server or waiter?
server vs waiter
A waiter is a person who serves food; a server can also be a computer.
Practice
In computing, what does a server do?
Choose one answer.
A server provides data or services to other computers over a network. The other options describe other devices or functions.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “server”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.