| 单词 | serve |
| 释义 | verb | noun serveserve1 /sɚv/ ●●● S1 W1 verb 1GIVE FOOD/DRINK [intransitive, transitive] to give someone food or drink, especially as part of a meal: Light refreshments will be served. The pitcher’s by me, so why don’t I serve?serve somebody A team of waiters served us.serve something with something I’m planning to serve the chicken with a light cream sauce.serve something to somebody Your meals can be served to you in your room.serve something hot/cold etc. Serve the pie warm or at room temperature.breakfast/lunch/dinner is served (=used in hotels and similar places to say when breakfast, lunch, etc. is provided)2BE ENOUGH FOOD [countable] to be enough food for a particular number of people: serve two/three/four etc. (people) This recipe serves six.3BE USEFUL/HELPFUL [intransitive, transitive] to be useful or helpful for a particular purpose or reason: serve as something The sofa also serves as a bed. Do the raised lines serve a purpose (=have a particular use), or are they just for decoration? McKenna’s background in publishing serves her well (=is very useful) in her new position. We wanted to build a community that served the needs of (=was useful for) all its members.4DO USEFUL WORK [intransitive, transitive] to spend a period of time doing a job, especially one that helps the organization, country, etc.: School board members serve a two-year term.serve in the army/military etc. She served in the Peace Corps in the 1960s.serve on a board/committee etc. Ann serves on various local committees.serve as something Powell served as secretary of state for President Bush’s first term. Christine was proud to serve her country (=in the military or doing government work).5STORE/RESTAURANT [transitive] formal to help the customers in a store, restaurant, etc., especially by bringing them the things that they want: Please fill out this questionnaire so that we may better serve you.6HAVE AN EFFECT [intransitive, transitive] formal to have a particular effect or result: serve to do something The incident served to emphasize the need for security.7PRISON [transitive] to spend a particular period of time in prison: He’s serving a life sentence for murder. McAllen is still serving time (=spending time in prison) for manslaughter.8PROVIDE something [transitive] to provide a group of people with something that is necessary or useful: The airline now serves 37 cities.9SPORTS [intransitive, transitive] to start playing in a game such as tennis or volleyball by throwing the ball up in the air and hitting it to your opponent10(it) serves somebody right (for doing something) spoken used to say that you think someone deserves something bad that happens, because he or she has been stupid or unkind: Serves him right – he shouldn’t have cheated in the first place.11serve a summons/writ etc. to officially send or give someone a written order to appear in a court of law12serve an apprenticeship to learn a job or skill by working for a particular period of time for someone who has a lot of experience13CHURCH [intransitive] to help a priest during the Eucharist[Origin: 1100–1200 Old French servir, from Latin servire to be a slave, serve] → see also justice has been done/served at justice (3), if memory serves at memory (8)serve something ↔ out phrasal verb to continue doing something until the end of a particular period of time: The senator’s failing health means he may not be able to serve out his term.serve something ↔ up phrasal verb to put food onto plates so that people can eat it verb | noun serveserve2 noun [countable] the action in a game such as tennis or volleyball in which you throw the ball in the air and hit it to your opponent: It’s your serve. |
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