(~s, serving, ~d)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If you ~ your country, an organization, or a person, you do useful work for them.
It is unfair to soldiers who have ~d their country well for many years...
I have always said that I would ~ the Party in any way it felt appropriate.
VERB: V n, V n
2.
If you ~ in a particular place or as a particular official, you perform official duties, especially in the armed forces, as a civil servant, or as a politician.
During the second world war he ~d with RAF Coastal Command...
For seven years until 1991 he ~d as a district councillor in Solihull.
VERB: V prep/adv, V prep/adv
3.
If something ~s as a particular thing or ~s a particular purpose, it performs a particular function, which is often not its intended function.
She ushered me into the front room, which ~d as her office...
I really do not think that an inquiry would ~ any useful purpose...
Their brief visit has ~d to underline the deep differences between the two countries...
The old drawing room ~s her as both sitting room and study.
VERB: V as/for n, V n, V to-inf, V n as/for n
4.
If something ~s people or an area, it provides them with something that they need.
This could mean the closure of thousands of small businesses which ~ the community...
Cuba is well ~d by motorways.
VERB: V n, V n
5.
Something that ~s someone’s interests benefits them.
The economy should be organized to ~ the interests of all the people...
VERB: V n
6.
When you ~ food and drink, you give people food and drink.
Serve it with French bread...
Serve the cakes warm...
Prepare the garnishes shortly before you are ready to ~ the soup.
...the pleasure of having someone ~ you champagne and caviar in bed...
They are expected to baby-sit, run errands, and help ~ at cocktail parties.
VERB: V n prep, V n adj, V n, V n n, V, also V n to n
•
Serve up means the same as ~ .
After all, it is no use serving up TV dinners if the kids won’t eat them...
He ~d it up on delicate white plates.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V n P
7.
Serve is used to indicate how much food a recipe produces. For example, a recipe that ~s six provides enough food for six people.
Garnish with fresh herbs. Serves 4.
VERB: no cont, V n
8.
Someone who ~s customers in a shop or a bar helps them and provides them with what they want to buy.
They wouldn’t ~ me in any pubs ’cos I looked too young...
Auntie and Uncle suggested she ~ in the shop.
VERB: V n, V
9.
When the police or other officials ~ someone with a legal order or ~ an order on them, they give or send the legal order to them. (LEGAL)
Immigration officers tried to ~ her with a deportation order...
Police said they had been unable to ~ a summons on 25-year-old Lee Jones.
VERB: V n with n, V n on n
10.
If you ~ something such as a prison sentence or an apprenticeship, you spend a period of time doing it.
...Leo, who is currently serving a life sentence for murder...
VERB: V n
11.
When you ~ in games such as tennis and badminton, you throw up the ball or shuttlecock and hit it to start play.
He ~d 17 double faults...
If you ~ like this nobody can beat you.
VERB: V n, V
•
Serve is also a noun.
His second ~ clipped the net.
N-COUNT
12.
When you describe someone’s ~, you are indicating how well or how fast they ~ a ball or shuttlecock.
His powerful ~ was too much for the defending champion.
N-COUNT
13.
see also serving
14.
If you say it ~s someone right when something unpleasant happens to them, you mean that it is their own fault and you have no sympathy for them.
Serves her right for being so stubborn.
PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR for -ing feelings