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A LISTSERV is an automated email mailing list management system that allows a group of subscribers to communicate by sending a single email to one address. It was one of the first systems for managing electronic mailing lists and is now a generic term for similar software. The system automatically distributes messages to all members and can handle subscriptions and unsubscriptions without manual intervention.

How it works: Subscribers send an email to a designated list address, and the software automatically sends that message to every member of the list.

Functions: It facilitates both one-way announcements from a list owner and open discussion forums among members.

Subscription: Members can typically subscribe or unsubscribe themselves, though some lists may require approval from an owner or moderator.

Origin: While "LISTSERV" is a registered trademark for a specific software created by Eric Thomas in the 1980s, the name has become a common term for any email list management software, similar to how "Kleenex" is used for tissues.