The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word WAIT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
W
A
I
T
More clues leading to the result WAIT
- Turning up in Ratibati a wild, thorny plant
- Hesitate to bring food to table
- Hang around with barista, regularly
- Archbishop’s envoy reported delay
- Intelligence required to get round a delay
- Serve ace: something funny about that?
- Load being reported — hang about
- Stay to hear Terry who was held hostage
- Provide service for heavy object, we hear
- Hang around Welsh island
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Provide service" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case provide service = wait.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does WAIT mean?
WAIT noun- A delay.
- An ambush.
- One who watches; a watchman.
- (in the plural) Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians.
- (in the plural) Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen. [formerly waites, wayghtes.]
- To delay movement or action until the arrival or occurrence of; to await. (Now generally superseded by “wait for”.)
- To delay movement or action until some event or time; to remain neglected or in readiness.
- To wait tables; to serve customers in a restaurant or other eating establishment.
- To attend on; to accompany; especially, to attend with ceremony or respect.
- To attend as a consequence; to follow upon; to accompany.
- To defer or postpone (especially a meal).
- To remain chaste while one's lover is unavailable.