server

/ˈsʌrvər/

/ˈsʌvə/

Other forms: servers

You can refer to the person who delivers your food in a restaurant as a server. Be sure to leave your server a generous tip!

The term server has become a very common synonym for "waiter" or "waitress." It's preferable to talk about the friendly server who takes your order, since the word isn't specific to their gender but works for anyone who serves food. Another meaning of server is the computer hardware in a network of linked computers that allows those devices to work properly.

Definitions of server

1. noun

   a person whose occupation is to serve at table (as in a restaurant)
   synonyms: waiter

   types:

   carhop

   a waiter at a drive-in restaurant

   counterman, counterperson, counterwoman

   someone who attends a counter (as in a diner)

   sommelier, wine steward, wine waiter

   a waiter who manages wine service in a hotel or restaurant

   waitress

   a woman waiter

   barista

   a person whose job is to make and serve coffee

   bunny, bunny girl

   a young waitress in a nightclub whose costume includes the tail and ears of a rabbit

   soda jerk, soda jerker

   someone who works at a soda fountain

   type of:

   dining-room attendant, restaurant attendant

   someone employed to provide service in a dining room
2. noun

   utensil used in serving food or drink
   type of:

   utensil

   an implement for practical use (especially in a household)
3. noun

   (court games) the player who serves to start a point
   type of:

   participant, player

   a person who participates in or is skilled at some game
4. noun

   (computer science) a computer that provides client stations with access to files and printers as shared resources to a computer network
   synonyms: host

   type of:

   computer, computing device, computing machine, data processor, electronic computer, information processing system

   a machine for performing calculations automatically